Sen. Landrieu Announces $19M in Hurricane Katrina Hazard Mitigation Grants
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., chair of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced $19 million for flood mitigation efforts at nine sewage pump stations in New Orleans. The funding is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Program.
“Improving our sewage infrastructure is critical for protecting the health and safety of the residents of New Orleans,” Sen. Landrieu said. “We cannot stop a natural disaster, but we can take smart steps to ensure that we are adequately prepared and protected to reduce the impacts on our communities.”
The grant will fund the elevation and hardening of nine sewage pump stations to prevent and mitigate future damages from similar conditions that occurred during Katrina and Rita. Where possible, the structures would be elevated to the 500-year flood level to reduce the infiltration of floodwaters and the possibility of submergence of electrical components, pumps and motors during flood and surge events. In addition, mitigation measures include reinforcing the stations by “hardening” structures around electrical components to protect the contents that could damage vital equipment in such events. The sewage pump stations function as a network to provide services to critical facilities such as schools, public buildings, fire stations, police stations, hospitals, as well as commercial and residential properties.
Today’s grant provides funding for the following sewage pump stations:
- SPS-8 Station at the corner of North Broad Avenue and Toulouse Street
- SPS-6 Station at 242 South Solomon Street
- Bullard Station at 5501 Bullard Avenue
- DODT Station at 8118 Chef Menteur Highway
- Lake Forest Station at 10451 Lake Forest Boulevard
- Lawrence Station at 7900 Morrison Road
- Plum Orchard Station at 7300 Chef Menteur Highway
- Victoria Station at 3620 Victoria Street
- Burke Station at 9001 Morrison Road