
FEMA
Continues With Katrina Recovery in Mississippi as New Disasters Strike the
Gulf Coast
From: FEMA Filed 9/22/08 GCN
BILOXI, Miss. –
Despite hurricanes Gustav and Ike making
landfall along the gulf coast in recent weeks, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency’s (FEMA) Mississippi Transitional Recovery Office (MS TRO) remains focused on its mission of
helping Mississippi recover from Hurricane Katrina.
“We just want to assure everyone that we
are continuing to work every day in helping rebuild the
Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Alec Watson, acting
director of the MS TRO. “We still have a job to do here and will not leave
until it is finished.”
FEMA works alongside its rebuilding
partners at MEMA in the Mississippi recovery effort.
“Moving forward in our recovery is one of
the most important parts of the rebuilding process,” said MEMA Director
Mike Womack. “Although storms like Gustav and Ike slowed things down, we
are pleased that these storms did not destroy the tremendous progress we
have already achieved.”
Two and a half weeks after the third
anniversary of Katrina, many signs of progress can be seen throughout
Mississippi. New community shelters and schools are being constructed from
Jackson County to Pearl River County.
South Hancock Elementary is set to open in the coming months and will be
one of the first public schools to be re-built after suffering total
devastation. The new St. Martin High School will include a 52,000
square-foot shelter.
These schools are being rebuilt using
federal Public Assistance funds. Money to build the shelters is provided
through the Hazard Mitigation Grants Program (HMGP). MEMA administers
Public Assistance funds as well as the HMGP.
Numerous other rebuilding projects are
nearing completion on the Coast. In Biloxi, the Small Craft Harbor is on
the verge of completion. The Biloxi Community Center, which was used
by the Mississippi National Guard and other first responders after the
storm, needed substantial repairs. That work has been completed and the
facility has re-opened in full compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
“We thank the citizens of Mississippi for
their resolve, determination and patience as the mission of
a full recovery moves forward,” said
Watson. “Our job has been made much easier over the last
three years because of the willingness of
Mississippians to take a proactive approach in rebuilding
their communities.”
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