Phase one of FIEB levee approved

Friday was a landmark moment for the Vermilion Parish School Board as representatives from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) presented an approval letter to the Vermilion Parish Police Jury and Rebecca Broussard, Director of Vermilion Parish Emergency Preparedness officially stating that Phase One of the Forked Island E. Broussard levee project has been funded.

What makes this event unique is that several agencies and governmental bodies have dealt with FEMA on projects since Hurricane Rita with some frustration.

The book-length application for funds to provide a protection levee around FIEB and Seventh Ward schools was submitted as part of Hazard Mitigation for the parish by Sellers Engineering.

“With all the requirements it has taken a long time and a tedious approval process to get to this point,” Gene Sellers stated.

“We would receive questions from them (FEMA) and answer the questions and then there would be a 30 day period before the next round of questions or approvals came through.”

Ricky LeBouef, President of the Vermilion Parish School Board agreed that the process was tedious, but since approvals are starting to be granted he is satisfied.

“As long as the end result comes through,” he said.

The Phase One approval in the amount of $183,800 is specifically for engineering and hydrology data, not the actual construction on the levees.

The federally funded portion of the monies is 75 percent or $137,150 with a 25 percent match from a state or local source.

In this case, the state will pay back 100 percent of the 25 percent or $45,000.

GOSEHP representative Jory White presented the approval letter from Governor Bobby Jindal emphasizing the approval of the 25 percent match. If the project goes over budget it will be the responsibility of local entities to provide these funds.

Vermilion Parish was awarded $4.5 million from FEMA for several hazard mitigation projects in the area besides the FIEB flood protection project.

Seventh Ward Elementary is the other school that will receive levees when approved.

In addition Abbeville General Hospital and the Vermilion Parish School board have projects that fall under this venue and will likely have to pay their share of expenses for projects that may go over budget.

Vermilion Parish has until March 2011 to complete the FIEB project and will submit quarterly reports to the state as to the progress of both Phase One, the engineering portion and Phase two the actual construction.