Louisiana Governor Jindal Requests "Major Disaster" be Declared for State for Mid-May Flooding

June 03, 2008 -- BATON ROUGE – Today, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal sent a letter to President Bush through FEMA Region VI to request that a “major disaster” be declared for Louisiana as a result of the flooding, torrential rainfall, damaging winds and tornado activity from May 13th to May 15th.

Governor Jindal requested a major disaster declaration for the parishes of Bossier, Caddo, East Carroll, Livingston, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes. The letter is included below:

Honorable George W. Bush, President
The White House
Washington, D.C.

Through:
Regional Director
FEMA Region VI
800 North Loop 288
Denton, TX 76209-3698

RE: Application for Presidential Disaster Declaration

Dear Mr. President:

Under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5206 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 C.F.R. § 206.36, I request that you declare a major disaster for the State of Louisiana as a result of the flooding, torrential rainfall, damaging winds and tornado activity which began on May 13, 2008, and continued through May 15, 2008. While a number of parishes declared a state of emergency,[1] I am requesting a major disaster declaration for the parishes of Bossier, Caddo, East Carroll, Livingston, Tangipahoa and Washington.

In response to this severe weather event, which threatened the lives and property of the citizens of this state, units of the Louisiana National Guard were mobilized to assist the affected parishes. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) activated the Emergency Operations Center Crisis Action Team. On May 15, 2008, I requested that joint federal/state/local preliminary damage assessment teams be deployed to the affected parishes. I further took appropriate action under state law and issued a state emergency declaration on May 15, 2008,[2] in accordance with Section 401 of the Stafford Act.

The State of Louisiana’s Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved by FEMA in April, 2008. It is a “standard” plan. The hazard mitigation plans of all of the affected parishes have been approved and adopted.

Over 674 homes across the state received some level of damage, with 128 homes suffering major damage or destruction. The reports from the damage assessment teams indicate that the most severe impact in all of the affected parishes is to homes of individuals living in low income areas.[3] The uninsured rate to the affected residences is estimated at 68%. In addition to the damages to those individual homes, other significant conditions created by this event are as follows:

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It is estimated that the parishes suffered damages to public structures in the amount of approximately $2,500,000. A summary of the damages in the affected parishes are attached as Enclosures B and C for your review.
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Over 36,000 residents lost electrical power throughout the affected parishes for periods of 24 to 36 hours.
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Other affected government services occurred in Caddo Parish where the city of Shreveport suffered a break in its water main resulting in a 36 hour boil advisory for 8000 residents. The parish also experienced damage to rural water systems.
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The Louisiana National Guard deployed high water evacuation vehicles to Bossier and Caddo Parishes and assisted with the evacuation of 125 citizens from homes and disabled vehicles in the cities of Greenwood, Shreveport and Hosston/Mira.
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The Red Cross mobilized 110 volunteers, opened shelters in Caddo and Tangipahoa Parishes and provided assistance in the other affected areas by serving meals (447), distributing cleanup kits (337) and providing financial assistance to families (62).
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Most affected parishes reported significant increases of 100% or more of calls to fire, police and EMS services. Caddo Parish reported an increase of 800%.
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Businesses were forced to close for periods ranging from one (1) to seven (7) days and although most have reopened, East Baton Rouge Parish has five (5) businesses which are still closed. Caddo Parish reports that over 30 businesses were affected by the flooding. Livingston, St. Martin, Washington and East Carroll Parishes reported that a number of businesses were forced to close.[4] These are rural parishes and the economic impact to these areas, although difficult to measure, has had a negative effect on these communities.

The State of Louisiana and its local governments are still deeply entrenched in the recovery phase from Hurricanes Cindy (DR 1601), Rita (DR 1607) and Katrina (DR 1603) which occurred during the hurricane season of 2005. The latter is the most catastrophic event in U.S. history. In addition to the above, Louisiana was granted a presidential disaster declaration in October, 2006 (DR 1668) and another in February, 2007 (DR 1685). The combined recovery cost to the state from these five disasters as of this date is approximately $372,057,832. The state costs from theses storms are itemized in Enclosure D.

I certify that for this major disaster, the state and local governments will assume all applicable non-federal share of costs required by the Stafford Act. Total expenditures are expected to exceed ten million dollars ($10,000,000).

Based on the above, I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond the capability of the state and the affected local governments to properly respond. Therefore, I am specifically requesting Individual Assistance (IA) including the Individual and Household Program (IHP), Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans, Direct Federal Assistance (DFA) and Hazard Mitigation Assistance for the six affected parishes of Bossier, Caddo, East Carroll, Livingston, Tangipahoa and Washington. I have included an estimate of the types and amount of assistance needed, which is outlined in Enclosure E.

In accordance with 44 C.F.R. § 206.208, the State of Louisiana agrees that upon receipt of direct Federal assistance, it will:

1. Provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements and rights-of-way necessary to accomplish the approved work;

2. Hold and save the United States free from damages due to the requested work and shall indemnify the Federal Government against all claims arising from such work;

3. Provide reimbursement to FEMA for the non-federal share of the cost of such work in accordance with the provisions of the FEMA-State Agreement; and

4. Assist the performing federal agencies in all local jurisdictional matters.

I certify that for this major disaster, the state and local governments will assume the applicable non-federal share of costs required by the Stafford Act.

I have designated Mark A. Cooper as the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR) and Mark Riley as the Alternate GAR. I have designated Thomas Kirkpatrick as the State Coordinating Officer (SCO) and Mark DeBossier as the Alternate SCO for this request. Messrs. Cooper, Riley, Kirkpatrick and DeBossier will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and will provide further information and justification on my behalf.

Sincerely,

Bobby Jindal
Governor

Source: Louisiana Governor

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