>> THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE

IN PART THROUGH FUNDING BY THE

CORPORATION OF PUBLIC

BROADCASTING.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED

BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENT

IN THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC

BROADCASTING AND FROM VIEWERS

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO

“LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE.”

I'M BETH COURTNEY, PRESIDENT OF

LPB.

TONIGHT WE'RE HERE WITH OUR

VOLUNTEER HOST, BOB COURTNEY, A

VETERAN TELEVISION JOURNALIST.

AND MY HUSBAND.

>> I AM?

OH, YES.

>> IN MARCH, AND AGAIN IN

AUGUST, VAST EXPANSES OF

LOUISIANA WERE INUNDATED WITH

FLOOD WATERS. IN TOTAL, OVER

THREE-QUARTERS LOUISIANA'S

PARISHES WERE DECLARED DISASTER

AREAS IN 2016. THE STATE'S

RESTORE LOUISIANA TASK FORCE IS

IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING HOW

TO SPEND THE FIRST FEDERAL GRANT

OF 438 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT

NUMBER MAY SEEM LARGE, BUT IS

ONLY ABOUT AN EIGHTH OF THE

ESTIMATED NEED, CLOSE TO 4

BILLION DOLLARS.

>> HOW CAN THE STATE HELP TO

ENSURE THAT ALL COMMUNITIES

RECOVER EQUALLY? WHAT IMPACT

SHOULD THE FLOODS HAVE ON

BUILDING STANDARDS, MITIGATION

AND PREVENTION? COULD JUMP

STARTING STALLED DIVERSION

PROJECTS PREVENT A SIMILAR

DISASTER IN THE FUTURE? OVER THE

NEXT HOUR WE'LL HEAR FROM STATE

OFFICIALS, RECOVERY EXPERTS AND

RECOVERING HOMEOWNERS. WE'LL

EXPLORE THESE ISSUES AND MORE ON

“BEYOND THE FLOOD” .

>> THE WATER CAME UP TO RIGHT IN

HERE.

>> LIKE MANY HOMEOWNERS ACROSS

LOUISIANA ALBERT PENDARVIS IS

STILL RECOVERING FROM THE AUGUST

FLOOD THAT RAVAGED HIS 60 YEAR

OLD HOME.

>> I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING BUT

GUT MY HOUSE OUT. FIRST OF ALL,

COSTS ARE EXCESSIVE NOW; AND FOR

MATERIALS AND LABOR SO I AM

FORTUNATE TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

>> PENDARVIS AND HIS WIFE

EVACUATED BY BOAT TO HIS

GRANDSON'S HOME. IT WAS BUILT

NEARBY ACCORDING TO FEMA

ELEVATION STANDARDS JUST TWO

YEARS AGO. THAT HOME ALSO

FLOODED.

JULIE BAXTER PAYER IS WITH

GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS'

OFFICE. SHE SAYS THE STATE IS

TRYING TO HELP FAMILIES LIKE THE

PENDARVISES ACROSS LOUISIANA.

EVERY FAMILY'S PATH HOME IS A

DIFFERENT PATHWAY, IT'S A

DIFFERENT STORY FOR EVERY

FAMILY.

THE STATE HAS FACILITATED MANY

KINDS OF RECOVERY PROGRAMS, FOR

THE IMMEDIATE, SHORT-TERM AND

LONG-TERM NEEDS OF FLOOD

VICTIMS.

>> WE HAD 11,000 PEOPLE IN

SHELTERS AT THE PEAK OF THIS

DISASTER, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO

CLOSE THAT DOWN SO WE ARE MOVING

FORWARD.

>> SHORT TERM, TEMPORARY

ASSISTANCE INCLUDES THE 2,100

FAMILIES STILL IN FEMA FUNDED

HOTEL ROOMS. ABOUT 1,300

FAMILIES ARE IN MANUFACTURED

HOUSING UNITS PROVIDED BY FEMA.

BUT ANOTHER 4,700 ARE ELIGIBLE

FOR THEM, ACCORDING TO BAXTER

PAYER. ABOUT 8,400 HOMES HAVE

HAD TEMPORARY REPAIRS COMPLETED

UNDER THE SHELTER-AT-HOME

PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS HOMEOWNERS

TO LIVE IN THEIR HOMES AS

REPAIRS ARE BEING MADE. IN

ADDITION TO THESE PROGRAMS, THE

STATE HAS ASKED FOR FEDERAL

FUNDS TO GET FINANCIAL AID TO

HOMEOWNERS FOR REBUILDING.

>> WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL

THAT WE ARE NOT SO TO SPEAK

HANDING OUT BLANK CHECKS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ONLY

ALLOCATED $438 MILLION DOLLARS

FOR REBUILDING HOMES. WITH WELL

OVER 100,000 FAMILIES AFFECTED

BY THE FLOODS, THE TOTAL NEED IS

AN ESTIMATED $2.6 BILLION

DOLLARS. HOW WILL THE STATE

CHOOSE WHO GETS HELP FIRST? THE

STATE'S RESTORE LOUISIANA TASK

FORCE IS HELPING MAKE THOSE

DECISIONS.

>> THE DISCUSSION INCLUDES

LIMITING WHO RECEIVES BENEFIT

FROM THE FIRST POOL OF MONEY TO

THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT

IN A FLOOD PLAIN AND DID NOT

THEREFORE HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE

THAT ARE ALSO LOW TO MODERATE

INCOME CAUSE THEY JUST DON'T

HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO

GO TO THE BANK AND HAVE A

SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND TO BE ABLE

TO REBUILD.

>> LAFAYETTE PARISH

MAYOR-PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX

IS HEAD OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE

LENDING ADVICE.

>> WHAT WE DON'T WANT; WE DON'T

WANT OUR CITIZENS LEAVING THE

STATE FOR WHATEVER OPPORTUNITIES

EXIST AND WALKING AWAY FROM

THEIR HOMES.

>> SOME HOMEOWNERS ARE ALREADY

GETTING HELP FROM THE NATIONAL

FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM. FOR

HOMEOWNERS WAITING ON INSURANCE

PAYOUTS FROM THEIR FLOOD

POLICIES, FEMA REPRESENTATIVE

WAYNE BERGGREN SAYS PATIENCE IS

KEY.

>> WE'VE CLOSED ALMOST 62

PERCENT OF THE CLAIMS FROM

AUGUST HAVE BEEN CLOSED WITH

PAYMENT.

SO, WE'RE OUT THERE WORKING; IT

SEEMS SLOW BUT WITH THE DISASTER

AND THE MAGNITUDE WE JUST HAD

ABOUT 6 OR 7 HUNDRED ADJUSTERS

TO WORK 29 THOUSAND CLAIMS.

>> TO PUT THINGS INTO

PERSPECTIVE, BERGGREN NOTES THAT

THERE WERE 49 HUNDRED CLAIMS

FROM LOUISIANA'S SPRING FLOODING

EVENT.

>> I THINK GOING FORWARD ONE OF

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN

DO NOT JUST IN LAFAYETTE BUT

ACROSS THE STATE IS TO ENCOURAGE

PEOPLE TO GET FLOOD INSURANCE.

WE'RE A LOW LYING STATE; WE'RE

AT RISK WITH HURRICANES AND RAIN

EVENTS ALL THE TIME;

>> WE NEED TO CONSIDER POSSIBLY

CHANGING SOME OF OUR DEVELOPMENT

CODE AND THAT WE REQUIRE PEOPLE

TO DEVELOP BASED ON 25 YEAR

FLOOD EVENT.

SO THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT

ARE DIFFICULT.

>>MANY LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES

THAT GET THEIR REVENUES FROM

PROPERTY TAXES MAY EXPERIENCE

SOME FINANCIAL INSTABILITY.

ROBIDEAUX HOPES LAFAYETTE CAN

MAKE UP THE LOSS IN SALES TAX.

>> LAFAYETTE WAS MORE FORTUNATE

THAN A LOT OF THE MUNICIPALITIES

BECAUSE OUR CORE ECONOMY OF

BUSINESSES WERE NOT AFFECTED AND

SO WHEN THE REBUILD EFFORT

OCCURS; FOR US HERE IN

LAFAYETTE; THEY'RE GOING TO SHOP

LOCALLY; GET THEIR BUILDING

MATERIALS LOCALLY.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S ASK OF THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INCLUDES $600

MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

PROJECTS LIKE A CANAL THAT WOULD

DIVERT WATER FROM THE AMITE

RIVER UNDER EXTREME FLOODING

EVENTS. EDWARDS' OFFICE IS

HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT'S EXPEDIENCY.

>> MANY TIMES AFTER A STORM

YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE FIRST

APPROPRIATION, COMPARABLE TO OUR

$438 MILLION, COMING SIX MONTHS,

EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE STORM. IN

JUST OVER TWO MONTHS, WE'VE HAD

OUR FIRST APPROPRIATION.

>> PENDARVIS, WHO IS ALSO A

PASTOR, IS TAKING THINGS IN

STRIDE.

>> ITS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS;

I'M NOT UPSET ABOUT IT; NOT

RAISING SAND ABOUT IT, I JUST

KNOW THE LORD KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT

AND THE LORD SAYS HE WOULDN'T

PUT MORE ON US THAN WE CAN BEAR.

>> JOINING US TO EXPLORE BEYOND

THE FLOOD IS OUR STUDIO

AUDIENCE. IT INCLUDES PARISH

OFFICIALS, DISPLACED RENTERS AND

REBUILDING EXPERTS. WE ALSO HAVE

LEGISLATIVE YOUTH ADVISORY

COUNCIL STUDENTS FROM FLOOD

EFFECTED AREAS. THANKS TO

EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.

THIS NATURAL DISASTER CAN BE

DEFINED BY SEVERAL HISTORIC

FIGURES, SO LET'S START THERE.

>> BASED ON DATA FROM FEMA, OVER

50 PERCENT OF THE HOMES IMPACTED

BY BOTH OF THESE FLOODS WERE NOT

IN FEMA'S 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN

AND 78 PERCENT OF IMPACTED HOMES

DID NOT HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.

25 PERCENT OF IMPACTED RESIDENTS

WERE RENTERS. ATTENTION HAS

LARGELY BEEN PAID TO HOMEOWNERS,

BUT THE STATE IS ASKING FOR $180

MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN

DEVELOPMENT TO AID RENTERS.

DAMAGES TO BUSINESSES AND

AGRICULTURE ARE ESTIMATED TO

EXCEED $3.2 BILLION, WITH 6,000

BUSINESSES FLOODED. THE

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ESTIMATES $120

MILLION OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT

WILL BE NEEDED TO AVOID CLOSURES

AND JOB LOSS.

BUT THOSE NUMBERS DON'T PAINT

THE ENTIRE PICTURE WHAT ABOUT

THE HUMAN IMPACT? WHAT ARE SOME

HURDLES YOU ARE EXPERIENCING?

I'LL OPEN THAT UP TO THE

AUNDIENCE.

>> I'D LIKE TO GO TO ASHLEY AND

JUDY.

A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER GREATLY

IMPACTED BY THE FLOOD.

START WITH YOU, ASHLEY.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> WHAT YOU SAW ON CAMERA WAS MY

GRANDFATHER.

WE GREW UP THERE.

HE'S BEEN THERE FOR 86 YEARS.

MY CHILDHOOD HOME WAS LOST.

IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 9 FEET OF

WATER TO THE ROOF.

EVERYBODY IN MY FAMILY, EXTENDED

FAMILY, COUSINS, AUNTS, UNCLES

PRETTY MUCH LOST EVERYTHING.

>> WOW.

>> SO NOW IT'S THE QUESTION OF

WHAT TO DO NEXT.

TO REBUILD OR MOVE ON.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT FAMILY

LAND?

>> ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS, JUDY,

IS THAT BARRIER THEY BUILT ALONG

THE INTERSTATE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT

BELIEVE THAT HAD A LOT TO DO

WITH THE FLOODING THERE.

>> YES.

WE'VE LIVED THERE FOR 40 YEARS.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT

WE EVER HAD WATER LIKE THAT.

SO THE INTERSTATE HAS ONLY BEEN

THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

SO IT REALLY DID HAVE AN IMPACT

ON IT.

THE WATER STARTED COMING IN AT

5:00 THAT FRIDAY MORNING AND

KEPT GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER.

SO IT COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE.

IT COULD ONLY SPREAD OUT ON THE

NORTH SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE.

IT COULDN'T GO FAST.

>> THE WATER CAME UP QUICKLY.

>> IT DID.

IT CAME UP QUICKLY.

>> YOU ALSO ARE A FLOOD VICTIM.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> WELL, I CALLED THE INSURANCE

COMPANY BECAUSE WE HAD NO WAY

OUT.

WE HAVE 11 HOMES.

9 OF THE 11 HOMES FLOODED.

WE HAD NOWHERE TO GO.

USUALLY YOU GO WITH YOUR MOM.

>> THE WHOLE FAMILY.

>> WE LOST 9 HOMES.

SO WE'RE ALL REBUILDING.

I GUESS THE HARDEST THING FOR ME

IS THE COMMUNICATION WE'VE GOT.

I DID HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.

AND I THINK PEOPLE JUST NEED TO

REALIZE IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY

LONG PROCESS.

THE MONEY THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED

TO GET IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE

TO GET HERE.

THEY DON'T COMMUNICATE THAT TO

YOU.

YOU DON'T REALIZE YOU ARE GOING

TO HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO STAY

FOR 3, 4, 6 MONTHS.

SO WE'RE WAITING ON THE CHECK TO

COME IN.

>> SO YOU STILL HAVE HAD NO

ECONOMIC RELIEF?

>> NO, I HAD RECEIVED THE MONEY

AND USING THAT TO REBUILD THE

HOME.

BUT MY MOTHER HAS NOT RECEIVED

HER FLOOD INSURANCE.

SHE'S STUCK.

WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO SEND THE

CHECK?

IT'S FRUSTRATING.

>> YOU GOT FLOODED.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE FLOOD

INSURANCE?

OR YOUR FAMILY DIDN'T HAVE FLOOD

INSURANCE?

>> NO, SIR.

I WAS LIVING AT THE SAINT JOHN'S

APARTMENTS.

EVERY APARTMENT GOT FLOODED.

I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING

TO THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR.

AND MY PARENTS WERE TOLD THEY

DID NOT NEED FLOOD INSURANCE.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT AND WE ALL

LOST EVERYTHING.

>> AND YOU AS A RENTER, HOW ARE

YOU IMPACTED?

>> WELL, AS OF RIGHT NOW, I WAS

GIVEN RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND TOLD

I DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR ANYTHING

ELSE.

GIVEN -- SO TOOK PICTURES AND

DOCUMENTED EVERYTHING.

AND JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T OWN

OUR HOMES.

I WAS ABOUT TO BECOME A

HOMEOWNER.

BUT THE FLOOD KIND OF TOOK CARE

OF ALL THAT.

>> THAT PUT THAT OFF AT LEAST

FOR A WHILE.

>> DESTROYED MY CAR.

CAN'T WORK TWO OF MY JOBS.

SO AS IT STANDS, IF I DON'T GET

SOME TYPE OF HELP, I MIGHT HAVE

TO VOLUNTEER FOR DEPLOYMENT JUST

TO SHAPE BACK.

>> YOU HAD FLOOD INSURANCE;

CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR

EXPERIENCE.

>> WELL, IT WAS DEFINITELY HARD

FOR ME.

I HAD A NEW BORN IN THE HOUSE.

THE WATER COMING IN SO QUICKLY,

DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO DECIDE

WHAT TO DO WITH THINGS.

CALLED MY INSURANCE THE NEXT DAY

AND DID GET SOME ASSISTANCE FOR

RENTAL INSURANCE.

FORTUNATE ENOUGH.

A FAMILY OF FOUR IS KIND OF

TIGHT.

IT'S A BLESSING TO HAVE THEM.

THIS IS PROCESS.

IT'S JUST TAKING A LONG TIME.

>> YOU CAN KIND OF GIVE US A

PERSPECTIVE BEING WITH THE --

ABOUT RENTERS IN GENERAL.

A LOT OF THE APARTMENTS WERE

LOST IN THIS FLOOD.

>> THERE WERE NO MORE UNITS.

>> WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEOPLE

DISPLACED AND WHAT HAPPENS TO

THE OWNERS OF THE APARTMENTS AND

HOW DO THEY REBUILD?

>> THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS.

I KNOW FOR THE RENTERS THEY

SCRAMBLED JUST LIKE ALL THE

HOMEOWNERS DID AND THAT CREATED

A GREAT INFLUX OF NEEDS.

WASN'T A GREAT DEAL OF VACANCY

TO BEGIN WITH.

SO THE FIRST COME FIRST SERVICE

SITUATION MADE IT HARD FOR

PEOPLE TO LIVE.

>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR

EXPERIENCE.

YOU WERE FLOODED.

>> WE GOT A FOOT OF WATER.

MY HUSBAND AND I PAID FOR OUR

HOMES.

BUT THE COST OF REBUILDING OUR

HOUSE IS REALLY COSTING US MORE

TO REBUILD THAN BUY THE HOUSE 25

YEARS AGO.

WE DO HAVE A SECOND FLOOR.

WE HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO FEMA.

THEY PUT $20,000 IN OUR HANDS.

AND WE HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO HIRE

A CONTRACTOR.

WE WERE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THE

SBA LOANS.

AND I WAS ABLE TO BORROW MY

DEFERRED COMPENSATION I KNOW

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO

HAD HOMES AND THEY CANNOT AFFORD

TO PAY TO REBUILD.

THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO GO TO

THEIR RESCUE.

I FEEL WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER

WITH, I'M GOING TO HAVE LESS

THAN WHAT THEY HAD.

I'M GOING TO HAVE A TON OF DEBT.

THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO GO TO

THEIR RESCUE.

BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, WE'VE

WORKED FOR 70 YEARS.

AND THAT'S HURTFUL TO ME.

SEND MY KIDS TO COLLEGE.

PREPARE FOR A RAINY DAY AND ALL

OF THAT IS DISSIPATING.

I'M GOING TO END UP WITH A

LOADED DEBT.

SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THE

GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO HELP

THEM.

AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

>> SO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF

HOMELAND SECURITY WE SERVE AS A

STATE AGENCY THAT LIAISONS

THROUGH BOTH THE RESPONSES AND

THE RECOVERY PHASE FOR THIS.

BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO

MITIGATING AND GROWING STRONGER

AS WE LOOK FORWARD.

TO REBUILD IN A WAY THAT BETTER

PROTECTS THEM FROM THE FLOOD

RISK MOVING FORWARD.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE WORKING WITH

THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF AND THE

TASK FORCE AND LOOKING AT ARE

THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO UTILIZE

THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES WE

WILL HAVE AS MORE FUNDING GETS

APPROPRIATED THAT KEEP US FROM

GETTING INTO A SITUATION WHERE

WE HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE

RECOVERING IN A PATCHWORK

FASHION AND THIS HOUSE GETS

ELEVATED AND TWO HOUSES DOWN

DOES NOT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A VACANT LOT

NEXT TO THAT.

SO CERTAINLY, OUR FIRST LOOK AND

OUR FIRST ATTEMPT IS TO TRY TO

LEVERAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

THAT ALLOW GREATER FLOOD

PROTECTION FOR THE COMMUNITY AND

NOT JUST SIMPLY A HOUSE BY HOUSE

APPROACH TO UTILIZING THAT

FUNDING.

>> WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IS

DEAL WITH WHAT HAPPENED WHICH IS

TERRIBLE.

AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN FOR

THE FUTURE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN.

SO YOU ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH

TWO DIFFERENT THINGS AT THE SAME

TIME.

>> CORRECT.

MITIGATION REALLY IS LOOKING

FORWARD.

BUT CERTAINLY FOR AN EVENT LIKE

THIS AN IMPORTANT RECOVERY.

WITHOUT CLARITY ABOUT HOW THAT

FUNDING WILL BE SPENT AND WHAT

PROTECTION WILL BE ABLE TO BE

FUNDED, SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF

CITIZENS ARE STRUGGLING WITH

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> A LONG PROCESS.

ALL RIGHT.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE

FOR THIS PORTION OF OUR SHOW.

WHEN WE RETURN, WE'LL BE JOINED

BY OUR PANEL TO FURTHER EXPLORE

>> WELCOME BACK TO LOUISIANA

PUBLIC SQUARE. TONIGHT WE'RE

DISCUSSING LOUISIANA'S RECOVERY

FROM RECENT FLOODING. JOINING US

NOW IS OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS.

WAYNE RICKARD IS A FEDERAL

DISASTER RECOVERY COORDINATOR

WITH FEMA. HE HAS SERVED AT FEMA

FOR 26 YEARS IN VARIOUS

POSITIONS, SUCH AS AN EMERGENCY

ANALYST, HAZARD MITIGATION

OFFICER, AND FIELD OFFICE

DIRECTOR.

AVA DEJOIE IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OF THE LOUISIANA WORKFORCE

COMMISSION. SHE WAS APPOINTED BY

GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS. THE

COMMISSION MONITORS EMPLOYMENT,

PROVIDES TRAINING RESOURCES FOR

EMPLOYERS AND JOB-SEEKERS AND

OVERSEES WORKER COMPENSATION

BENEFITS.

ADAM KNAPP IS PRESIDENT AND CEO

OF THE BATON ROUGE AREA CHAMBER,

A MEMBER OF THE RESTORE

LOUISIANA TASK FORCE, AND A

FORMER MEMBER OF THE LOUISIANA

RECOVERY AUTHORITY, WHICH AIDED

REBUILDING AFTER THE 2005

HURRICANES.

PAT FORBES IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT AND IS HELPING TO

STRUCTURE THE FLOOD ASSISTANCE

PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN

DEVELOPMENT. FORBES ALSO WORKED

WITH THE LRA.

BEFORE WE GO TO OUR AUDIENCE

QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU

ALL, FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW,

WHAT'S THE STATUS OF RECOVERY?

>> I'LL START HERE AND WORK OUR

WAY DOWN THE PANEL.

>> I WOULD SAY IT IS DIFFICULT

TO COMPARE ONE DISASTER TO

ANOTHER.

I THINK WE'RE COMING ALONG WELL.

THEY ARE EXTREMELY RESILIENT.

THEY HAVE TAKEN THE RESOURCES WE

HAVE PUTTING THEM TO WORK AND

DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE

SURE THAT WE GET THE EXTERNAL

RESOURCES WE NEED.

IT'S JUST BEEN A VERY EFFECTIVE

EFFICIENT RESPONSE.

IT STILL DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD

TO YOU RIGHT NOW.

IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT IT AS A

MAJOR DISASTER, WE AS A STATE

ARE DOING WELCOMING BACK.

MAYBE NOW HIGH SCHOOL IF WE WERE

IN HIGH SCHOOL.

MAYBE WE ARE IN SECOND SEMESTER

OF FRESHMAN YEAR.

YOU KNOW WHERE THE BATHROOMS ARE

YET.

WE COME FROM THE VANTAGE POINT

OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND LOOK

FOR THE CHALLENGES OF

BUSINESSES.

THE SAME SCENARIOS YOU HEAR ARE

SO MANY BUSINESSES WITHOUT FLOOD

INSURANCE.

AND THE RESOURCES OF RECOVERY

ARE STILL SLIM.

WE LOOKED AT THE ANALYSIS OF

BUSINESS DATA AND MAYBE 25% ARE

ABLE TO BE ACCESSING WHAT IS

AVAILABLE THROUGH THE S B.A.,

THE SMALL BUSINESS

ADMINISTRATION.

SO LARGELY, ANOTHER CHAPTER,

ANOTHER ACT TO COME FOR BUSINESS

RECOVERY IN GENERAL.

>> THIS IS A LOSS AND A TRAGEDY

FOR ALL THOSE THAT WERE FLOODED

AND FOR THOSE THAT WEREN'T

FLOODED IT STILL IMPACTS THEIR

COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY THAT

WHERE YOU ARE IN THAT GRIEVING

PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS VERY MUCH

A PROCESS.

I THINK WE ARE WORKING OUR WAY

AT DIFFERENT PACES THROUGH THE

HEALING AND TO AN EVENTUAL -- I

CAN NEVER SAY CONCLUSION BECAUSE

THE PROCESS IS CONTINUING AND

STARTING OVER.

I THINK IT IS PROCEEDING FOR

EVERYONE AT A DIFFERENT PACE.

>> AS THE GUY ON THIS PANEL WHO

IS BLAMED -- FROM FAMOUS

PERSPECTIVE, WHERE ARE WE IN

THIS PROCESS?

>> WELL, TO USE ADAM'S ANALOGY,

IF WE REVIEW THE HIGH SCHOOL

ANALOGY AS SHORT-TERM RECOVERY,

WHEN WE COMPLETE THAT, WE HAVE

THE LONG-TERM RECOVERY WHICH IS

LIFE FOR US AS A COLLECTIVE.

THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, I THINK,

WAS BECAUSE OF THE SPRINGTIME

FLOOD AND THE IMPACTS OF THOSE

COMMUNITIES AND HOUSEHOLDS,

WE'RE ALREADY LEANING FORWARD.

AND SO WHEN THE AUGUST FLOOD

OCCURRED, A LOT OF MECHANISMS

HAD ALREADY BEEN PUT IN PLACE BY

THE GOVERNOR EDWARDS INCLUDING

THE THOUGHT PROCESS ON THE

GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE.

AND THE WAY THAT THE FEDERAL

AGENCIES, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND

NON-PROFITS AND EVEN

PHILANTHROPY, THAT COMMUNITY

WOULD BE WORKING ON THE DISASTER

RECOVERY FROM THE SPRING FLOOD.

SO WHILE THE SECOND FLOOD WAS

EVEN A GREATER MAGNITUDE AND

SCOPE, BECAUSE OF THOSE

MECHANISMS WERE IN PLACE, THINGS

STARTED MOVING FASTER THAN THEY

WOULD NORMALLY HAVE DONE IN THE

FLOOD THAT OCCURRED IN AUGUST.

>> I WANT TO GO TO SOME OF OUR

AUDIENCE QUESTIONS.

THE MOST APPROPRIATE QUESTION IS

RIGHT WHERE I STARTED THIS

PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S GO TO SOME OF THE

VICTIMS.

WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION FOR THIS

PANEL?

>> MY QUESTION IS ON THE I-12

DAM IN WALKER, IS THERE ANY WORK

GOING TO BE DONE TO ALLEVIATE

THAT PROBLEM?

ANY WORK TO BE DONE TO DO

SOMETHING ABOUT THAT?

OR ONLY AS FLOOD VICTIMS SEE

THAT AS A PROBLEM.

>> I HEARD THAT BUT I'M NOT

FAMILIAR WITH WHERE THEY ARE IN

THE STUDY PROCESS FOR

ESTABLISHING WHAT IMPACT IT

MIGHT HAD ON THE FLOODS.

I DO KNOW THAT WE ARE PLANNING

AND MODELING ALL THESE FLOOD

BASINS.

AND WE WILL KNOW THAT WHEN WE

GET DONE.

>> I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE WATER

ON THE NORTH SIDE IS LEVEL.

AND THERE'S NO WATER ON THE

SOUTH SIDE AT ALL.

SO, I MEAN, THAT'S GOT TO TELL

SOMEBODY SOMETHING THAT IF SOME

WATER HAD GOTTEN THROUGH THERE,

MAYBE MY HOUSE --

>> I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM

IS I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY HERE ON

OUR PANEL CAN REALLY DIRECTLY

RESPOND TO THAT.

AND IT IS A MATTER OF LITIGATION

NOW.

SO IT'S PROBABLY A DIFFICULT

THING TO TALK ABOUT.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS --

TO GIVE EVERYONE THE IDEA OF THE

AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WE RECEIVED

OVER THE DAYS OF RAIN AND

FLOODING, IT WOULD TAKE THE

MISSISSIPPI RIVER 17 DAYS TO

DRAIN THAT AMOUNT OF WATER INTO

THE GULF OF MEXICO.

SO IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, THE MOUTH

OF THE RIVER, 17 DAYS.

THAT'S HOW MUCH WATER WE'VE

RECEIVED.

>> WHAT ABOUT CASEY.

CAN YOU RESPOND AT ALL TO THIS

ABOUT THE WHOLE IDEA OF

DIVERTING SOME OF THAT WATER AND

PREVENTING THESE THINGS FROM

HAPPENING?

>> AS WE LOOK FORWARD AND

MR. FORBES MENTIONED AND LOOK AT

THE CURRENT CONDITIONS AND HAVE

THE DATA AND THE INFORMATION TO

HELP US LOOK FORWARD INTO THE

FUTURE IN TERMS OF WHAT DOES THE

BUILT ENVIRONMENT LOOK LIKE.

WHETHER IT'S ROADS,

INFRASTRUCTURE, SUBDIVISIONS OR

WHATEVER IT IS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS COME INTO

PLAY.

THE RIVER SYSTEMS THEMSELVES ARE

CHANGING AND ARE LIVING SYSTEMS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ASK US

TO DO IS LOOK AT LARGE SCALE

SOLUTIONS AND TRY TO ADDRESS THE

LARGE-SCALE PROBLEMS WE HAVE

EXPERIENCED WITH THOSE TYPE OF

SOLUTIONS.

>> I WANT TO MOVE TO BUTCH

BROWNING.

AND I WANT TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT

A LITTLE BIT.

I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN A

LITTLE BIT.

THE FIRE SERVICE IS BEING

AFFECTED BY THIS IN TWO WAYS.

ONE, YOU ARE FLOOD VICTIMS.

LOST A LOT OF FIRE HOUSES.

AND TWO, THE WHOLE IDEA OF TAX

COLLECTIONS BEING IMPACTED BY

THIS AFFECTS YOUR FUNDING.

>> CORRECT.

THIS IS A GREAT FORMAT AND I

APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THE

FACES OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE

HURTING.

INCREASED RESPONSE TIMES.

WE SEE MORE EMERGENCIES AFTER A

DISASTER.

BUT THE REAL BLOW FROM THE

FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAD TO GO HOME

AND DEAL WITH THE OWN HOMES.

THE REAL PROBLEM IS MOST OF

THOSE OPERATE ON TAXES.

AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE

REASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY AND

TAXES IN DECEMBER WOULD BE

DISPERSED GOING DOWN.

NOW, THE GOVERNOR ACTED REAL

QUICKLY.

IT'S A LONG PROGRAM.

TAKEN MONEY TO PAY TAL REES

RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S REAL SCARY TO SAY

NOTHING ABOUT THE LONG-TERM

READINESS.

THE GOVERNOR BROUGHT US TOGETHER

AND DID AN EXERCISE.

AND HAD THAT HAVE HAPPENED, BEEN

CALLING THE RESOURCE TO RESPOND

BECAUSE WE LOST A LOT OF

RESOURCES.

AND GET THESE FIRE STATIONS BACK

IN SHAPE.

>> LET'S TURN THAT INTO A

QUESTION.

>> HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THE

PARTICULAR ENTITIES.

OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES OUR

BIGGEST CONCERN HAS BEEN THE

AFFECT OF WHAT YOU JUST TALKED

ABOUT.

THE REASSESSMENT CHANGING OF

REVENUE THROUGH THE FIRE

DISTRICTS AS WELL AS GENERAL

SERVICES OF GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE EXPECTATIONS OF

GOVERNMENT WORKING TO PROVIDE

SERVICES.

AND THERE'S A BIG CHALLENGE TO

THE COMMUNITIES RIGHT NOW.

AS FAR AS PLANNING INTO NEXT

YEAR, THIS COMING MONTH AND THEY

ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO JANUARY

WITH A BIG QUESTION MARK.

THEY ARE ALSO DOING THE RIGHT

THING TO GIVE SOME AMOUNT OF

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO

HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE SITTING ON

PROPERTY THAT'S DAMAGED.

AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY

ARE NOT PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ON

A PROPERTY THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD A

LOWER ASSESSED VALUE.

SO THERE'S THIS REAL GIVE AND

TAKE THAT'S HAPPENING WHICH IS

HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THE

SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE WHERE

THEY ARE NOT PAYING TOO MUCH

RIGHT NOW.

IT IS A REAL PROBLEM THAT IS

BEHIND THE SCENES FOR MOST

FOLKS.

>> THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO PAY

THEIR BILLS AND LAY FIREFIGHTERS

OFF.

SO IT IS A PROBLEM.

IN THE KATRINA MODEL, I CAN

REMEMBER THAT.

AND AT THE END OF THAT PERIOD,

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR GAVE

THOSE LOANS.

SO I ASKED THE TASK FORCE TO

RESEARCH THAT PARADIGM SO WE CAN

LEARN FROM THAT.

>> AND YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE

ENTITIES AND SHE'S OVER EXTENDED

HERSELF TO DEAL WITH THIS.

THE WHOLE PROCESS OF GETTING

LOANS ACTUALLY DOUBLES YOU UP

BOTH FIRE DEPARTMENT AND

INDIVIDUALS.

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THAT?

>> I WILL SAY THAT THE GOVERNOR

HAS GONE TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND

REQUESTED $3.7 BILLION TO HELP

WITH SOME OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

OUR EXPERIENCE IN DISASTER IS

THAT EVERYBODY GETS MADE WHOLE

AND THE BEST THAT YOU CAN TRY TO

DO IS TRY TO HELP EVERYBODY THAT

YOU CAN ACHIEVE THE RECOVERY.

AND REBUILD ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT

ANY HELP, THE GOVERNOR IS IN

WASHINGTON, TRYING TO GET FUNDS.

MORE THAN THE $428 MILLION WE

HAVE RIGHT NOW.

SO WE HAVE A BROADER RANGE OF

DEAL.

IT'S A FRACTION OF THE AMOUNT OF

MONEY THEY NEED TO HELP THE

HOMEOWNERS WHO HAD MAJOR SEVERE

DAMAGE AND DID NOT HAVE FLOOD

INSURANCE.

>> WHEN ARE PEOPLE GOING TO

START SEEING IN THEIR HOMES AND

CHECKBOOKS THAT $438 MILLION?

>> WELL, AS YOU MIGHT GUESS,

LONG PROCESS TO MAKE THE MONEY

AVAILABLE.

WHAT WE'RE WAITING FOR IS HAS TO

WRITE A THING THAT DESCRIBES THE

WAY THE MONEY CAN BE SPENT.

AT THAT POINT, WE'LL TELL THEM

HOW WE WANT TO SPEND THE FIRST

BATCH OF MONEY AND WE'LL START

HAVING PROGRAMS PROBABLY

SOMETIME IN THE SPRING,

SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN PEOPLE

CAN ACCESS MONEY FROM THIS.

>> THAT'S A LONG TIME.

>> IT'S NOT A LONG TIME COMPARED

TO MOST DISASTERS.

IT'S FAIRLEIGH SHORT.

>> I'M SURE IT MAKES ALL THE

VICTIMS IN HERE FEEL GREAT TO

KNOW THAT.

>> THERE ARE WITHIN THE

CONSTRAINTS OF HOW THIS MONEY IS

APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS AND

ALLOCATED BY HUD AND APPROVED BY

HUD THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING

WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AS

FAST AS POSSIBLE.

AND NEVER BE FAST ENOUGH.

YOU REALLY SORT OF -- THE FEMA

COMING IN AFTER THE DISASTER IS

IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO TRY TO HELP

PEOPLE MAKE IT THROUGH.

AND THE LONG-TERM RECOVERY IS

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FUND.

SO PEOPLE CAN BE MADE WHOLE AND

NOT HAVE THAT HUGE DAMAGE TO

THEIR FUTURE, AND RETIRE, THOSE

KINDS OF THINGS.

>> THE LOAN PROGRAMS WHETHER

IT'S S B.A. OR THE COMMUNITY

DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM THROUGH

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ARE JUST

SAFETY NETS.

SO FOR THOSE WHO AVAIL

THEMSELVES OF THAT, IT'S

PROBABLY HAPPENED AT A VITAL

TIME.

RECOUGH REE IS GOING TO BE

LONG-TERM.

THE TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS ARE

SHORT-TERM.

AND IN DISASTERS AND APPOINTED

TO.

WE BRING IN AGENCIES TO BRIDGE

THE GAP.

WE HAVE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WORKING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ADMINISTRATION WORKING WITH US

ON BUSINESS RECOVERY AND IMPACTS

TO BUSINESSES AND HOW WE CAN

LESSEN SOME OF THE DISRUPTIONS

IN THE FUTURE.

WE'RE WORKING WITH HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES ON HEALTH AND

SOCIAL SERVICES ISSUES BECAUSE

OF ALL OF THIS POPULATIONS FROM

THE FLOOD.

HAVING TO SHOW CHILDREN BACK AND

FORTH BETWEEN SCHOOLS THAT MAYBE

WEREN'T THEIR NORMAL SCHOOL OF

RECORD.

AND THEN WE'VE BEEN DISPLACED.

THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

LOOKING AT NATURAL AND CULTURAL

RESOURCE ISSUES SO THEY ARE

BRINGING THEIR RESOURCES TO BEAR

UNDER THEIR CITY STATE PROGRAMS.

>> WE'VE FALLEN INTO A

THREE-PART QUESTION.

AND I WANT TO TURN TO YOU AND

SEE ARE YOU HEARING WHAT YOU

WANT TO HEAR HERE?

>> I LIKE TO KNOW THE PLAN.

THAT WAS THE FIRST PART OF MY

QUESTION.

I KNEW THAT WE HAD $438 MILLION

WE ALREADY RECEIVED.

BUT MY MAIN QUESTION WAS WHY

WEREN'T WE SEEING THIS BEING

IMPLEMENTED ALREADY?

AND I JUST HAD A QUESTION

WONDERING THE OTHER TWO PARTS TO

MY QUESTION WERE WHENEVER YOU

ALL GO TO DISPERSE THIS MONEY,

IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO EVENLY

DISPERSE IT?

I'VE HEARD MANY ACCOUNTS OF

PEOPLE WHO WHEN THEY GOT THEIR

PROPERTIES ASSESSED, THIS PERSON

GOT $25 FOR A REFRIGERATOR AND

THIS PERSON GOT $300 FOR A

DISHWASHER AND DIDN'T EVEN HAVE

A DISHWASHER TO START OFF WITH.

SO THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

I READ ABOUT SOME OF THE

INSTANCES DURING KATRINA WHERE

THEY BASED THE FEDERAL MONEY

BASED ON THE PROPERTY VALUE OF

THE HOUSE AND NOT ON THE DAMAGE.

SO I WAS WONDERING IF THERE

WOULD BE A MORE EVEN FAIRWAY TO

DISPERSE THE MONEY OUT?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

>> IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, THE

$438 MILLION, ALL THE DAMAGE

EVALUATIONS WILL BE THAT.

HOW MUCH DAMAGE YOUR HOME

RECEIVED.

WON'T BE ANY CONSIDERATION OF

PRE-STORM VALUE.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE NEED

TO GET BACK IN THEIR HOMES AND

HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

WITH RESPECT TO FAIRNESS, I HAVE

TO SAY THAT SOING SOMETHING

EVERYBODY SEES IS FAIR IS ALMOST

ALWAYS IMPOSSIBLE.

WHAT THAT MEANS RIGHT NOW IS

THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR $3

BILLION JUST TO HELP HOMEOWNERS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE $438 MILLION.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME

SUBSET OF THE POPULATION FOR WHO

WE ARE GOING TO HELP FIRST.

AND MOST LIKELY, THE FOLKS AND

WE HAVE A TASK FORCE MEETING

THIS FRIDAY.

SO THAT'S YET TO BE DECIDED.

BUT MOST LIKELY THAT POPULATION

WILL BE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME.

THEY WON'T LIVE IN THE FLOOD

PLAIN.

THEY WON'T HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.

FOLKS WHO HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE

HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET BACK IN

THEIR HOMES OR HAVE A PLAN.

SO WHEN THE RESOURCES ARE LESS

THAN WE NEED TO GET EVERYBODY

BACK WHERE THEY NEED TO BE,

WE'VE HAD TO START MAKING SOME

SORTS OF PRIORITIZATION

DECISIONS.

THOSE DECISIONS ARE WHAT WE

EXPECT THEM TO DO IS HELP THE

MOST VULNERABLE POST.

TO ACCESS OTHER RESOURCES TO GET

BACK IN THEIR HOMES.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SO MANY

DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIRE

DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES AND

PEOPLE'S JOBS.

A LOT OF COMPONENTS THAT HAVE

ALL BEEN DAMAGED.

AND YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT

THAT.

>> I DO.

FROM 2004 AND 2008, ADAM AND I

WORKED TOGETHER.

WE ALL WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS

ISSUE.

ADAM IS CHAIRING THE

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE TASK FORCE

DEAL WITHING SMALL BUSINESS

RECOVERY.

SO WE CAN TELL THEM WHAT'S GOING

ON.

OUR WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN

CONSIDERING WHERE THE VAST

MAJORITY HAS BEEN.

IMPACTING SMALL FIRMS MORE THAN

ANYTHING ELSE.

AND THE LACK OF RESOURCES ARE

THERE.

FROM SOME OF THE DATA WE PULLED

TO THE BUSINESSES SOMEWHERE

AROUND 14% HAD FLOOD INSURANCE.

WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE DATA ON

HOMEOWNERS.

WHAT THE PROGRAM, AGAIN, $438

MILLION IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A

HUGE -- THAT LIMITED POOL

FOCUSED ALREADY ON HOMEOWNERS

AND RIGHTLY SO.

THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF RESOURCES

ARE FOCUSED ON TRYING TO GET

SOME INITIAL ASSISTANCE TO

BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO

BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE

PROGRAMS.

IF MORE APPROPRIATIONS COME,

BRIDGE ASSISTANCE THROUGH

EXISTING BANKS.

WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING WHICH IS

FOR A BLEND OF GRANTS AND LOANS

TO GET THEM INITIAL EQUIPMENT

THROUGH GRANTS AND LOAN ASSIST

ASSISTANCE TO S B.A. LOANS FOR.

THE CHALLENGE WE'VE SEEN IS

FOLKS DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO

COME IN AND BORROW AND TAKE ON

DEBT.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO

HAPPEN NEXT.

THE PEOPLE THAT NEED YOUR DENTAL

SERVICES ANY MORE.

ALL OF YOUR THINGS ARE TIED INTO

THE COMMUNITY RECOVERY AT THE

SAME TIME.

ALL OF THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS

CENTERED ON HOMEOWNER AND

INDIVIDUAL RECOVERY.

AND THEN RECOGNIZING BUSINESS

RECOVERY WILL COME AS

COMMUNITIES RECOVERY WITH THE

HOPE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS CAN

STAND UP.

>> MANY OF THESE SMALL

BUSINESSES, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK

THERE ARE OUT OF WORK NOW.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE

PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS?

>> WELL, IMMEDIATELY THE

GOVERNOR SIGNED WE SECURED A

MILLION DOLLARS FROM U.S. DOL.

THE WORKFORCE COMMISSION

PROCESSED OVER 7,000 DISASTER

UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS IN THE 22

PERISH AREA.

WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE A DECLINE

IN CONTINUING WEEKLY CLAIMS.

SOME PEOPLE TRANSITIONING OFF.

WE HAVE DISASTERS.

SECRETARY SEAN WILSON, THE

WORKFORCE COMMISSION RECEIVES

TEMPORARY JOB ASSISTANCE MONEY.

AND WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT $4.2

MILLION IN THAT.

WE ARE ABLE TO HIRE FOLKS TO

DISTRIBUTE GOODS AND ASSIST

THOSE THAT MAY NEED ANY TYPE OF

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SERVICES.

ACTUALLY SERVE AS THE STORE

HERE.

IT WAS A GREAT PUBLIC

PARTNERSHIP.

AND SOME OF THE CONTINUED CLEAN

UP EFFORTS ON THE INTERSTATES

BOTH STATE HIGHWAYS AND LOCAL

HIGHWAYS.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE

CONTRACTORS COMING IN TO HELP

REBUILD AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO

PLACE PEOPLE.

WE'RE WORKING ON PLACING THOSE

THAT DID LOSE THEIR JOB.

>> WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED VERY MUCH.

WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED ON THE

COMPONENT OF GETTING BUILDING

PERMITS AND GETTING THE WHOLE

THING OF GETTING THE MECHANICS

GOING.

YOU HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THEIR

HOMES.

>> I DID.

IT'S BEEN A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR

THE CITY.

ALMOST OVERNIGHT YOU HAVE THIS

HUGE VOLUME OF WORK THAT YOU

HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND PROCESSING

PERMITS TO TRY AND HELP THE

HOMEOWNERS.

AND CERTAINLY THE DISCUSSION

TONIGHT, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE

FUNDS.

WHEN AND IF THEY'LL BE

AVAILABLE.

SO YOU SURVIVE THE FLOOD.

YOU HOPEFULLY GET YOUR INSURANCE

MONEY AND MAKE IT THROUGH YOUR

MORTGAGE MAZE AND YOU GET TO THE

PERMIT OFFICE AND YOU ARE TOLD

YOU HAVE TO ELEVATE.

AND JUST LIKE A BRICK WALL.

IT'S A VERY WE'RE ASKED

EVERYDAY.

IS THERE GOING TO BE ASSISTANCE?

THEY WANT TO REBUILD AND GET

BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> BIG ISSUE AFRICA TRINA.

ARE WE GOING TO HELP PEOPLE?

>> WHAT GOVERNOR EDWARDS HAS

SAID IS WHAT HE WANTS TO DO IS

ADDRESS THE FLOODING FROM A

WATER SHED.

IF WE ELEVATE, NEVER HAVE ENOUGH

MONEY.

SO IF WE ELEVATE A FEW PEOPLE,

THE SAME CHECKER BOARD SITUATION

CAN OCCUR.

THE LARGE SCALE LOCAL ORDINANCE

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS,

NONINFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT

WILL LOWER THE BASE FLOOD

ELEVATION SO WE CAN REDUCE THE

NEED TO ELEVATE.

NOT TO SAY THERE WON'T BE

ELEVATIONS.

CERTAINLY WILL BE NEED FOREL --

ELEVATIONS.

WE KNOW THREE COMMUNITIES THAT

HAVE FLOODED 10 TIMES IN THE

LAST 12 YEARS.

SO MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR THAT

COMMUNITY TO MOVE AS A WHOLESOME

WHERE THAT'S SAFER AND DRIER.

SO WE CAN LOOK AT BUYOUTS AND

ELEVATIONS CERTAINLY.

BUT NOT AS THE FOCAL POINT OF

THE STRATEGY FOR REMEDIATION OF

FUTURE EVENTS.

IT'S MORE ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE

SURE WE HAVE WATER SHED THAT CAN

ABSORB THE WATER BETTER, MOVE IT

OFF AND NOT FLOOD PEOPLE OUT

WITHOUT HAVING TO ELEVATE THEM.

AGAIN, CERTAINLY NEED FOR

ELEVATIONS.

>> I WANT TO GO TO YOU BAILY.

YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE YOUTH

COUNCIL.

BUT YOU WERE ALSO FLOODED;

CORRECT?

>> I WAS.

>> WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION?

>> WELL, THE RETIRED ELDERLY,

ALL THEY HAVE IS GOVERNMENT

FUNDS.

MOST OF THEM CANNOT AFFORD FLOOD

INSURANCE.

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH

THEM?

>> THAT'S ACTUALLY A FEW

QUESTIONS IN ONE, I THINK.

FIRST, I WILL SAY THAT WE WILL

BE RECOMMENDING PRIORITIZATION

OF THE ELDERLY WITH RESPECT TO

REBUILDING FROM THE FUNDS THAT

ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT'S KEY.

WE KNOW THEY ARE A VULNERABLE

PART OF THE POPULATION.

WITH RESPECT TO FLOOD INSURANCE,

EVERYBODY IS IMPACTED VERY

SIMILARLY, OF COURSE.

MORE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND

LESS VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE

NOT IN THE FLOOD PLAIN.

DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE GOING TO

NEED FLOOD INSURANCE.

SO IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.

AND WE'VE GOT TO -- ONE WAY TO

ADDRESS THAT IS TO REDUCE THE

BASE FLOOD ELEVATIONS.

SO TO THE EXTENT WE CAN DO THAT

FOR EVERYBODY, WE'LL BE

ASSISTING THE ELDERLY AS WELL.

AGAIN, WE'LL BE RECOMMENDING

PRIORITIZATION OF THE ELDERLY IN

OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE

KNOW THEY NEED HELP.

THEY NEED ASSISTANCE IN MORE

THAN JUST FINANCIAL.

>> DID THAT ANSWER YOUR

QUESTION?

>> IT DID.

WE'LL GO TO CASEY TINGLE.

I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR QUESTION.

IT'S REALLY A VERY GOOD

QUESTION.

WHY DON'T YOU ASK IT.

>> WELL, WE ARE A PART OF THE

RESPONSE AND RECOVERY FROM A

VARIETY OF DISASTERS OVERTIME.

DIFFERENT TYPES.

AND THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT.

AND SO I JUST THOUGHT THAT MAYBE

A QUESTION THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO

ADDRESS TONIGHT IS WHAT ARE SOME

OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS

RECOVERY UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT

FROM THOSE IN THE PAST.

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

ONE THING THAT'S DIFFERENT AND

UNIQUE IS THE FACT THAT THIS IS

NOT A HURRICANE MATTHEW OR A

HURRICANE ISAAC.

TWO MAJOR FLOODS HERE WE ARE

WORKING WITH ON THE STATE.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT IT IS IT

DOES NOT TYPICALLY DRAW THE

NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION THAT

WOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL

ASSISTANCE FROM NON-PROFITS OR

DONATIONS.

AND SO BY IN LARGE A LOT OF THE

NATION DOESN'T REALLY RECOGNIZE

OR REALIZE THE SCOPE AND THE

MAGNITUDE OF THE IMPACTS AND THE

PAIN THAT FAMILIES ARE

EXPERIENCING.

THE DISPLACED POPULATIONS, THE

DISRUPTION OF THE SENSE OF

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY AND PLACE.

ALL THOSE THINGS ARE VERY

SIGNIFICANT.

HAVING SAID THAT THOUGH, ANOTHER

THING THAT'S UNIQUE IS THE FACT

THAT BOTH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

WITH HIS SENIOR POLICY GROUP AND

HIS FORMATION OF RECOVERY

SUPPORT FUNCTIONS THAT WORK ON

THE SECTORS FROM HOUSING TO

INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOCIAL

SERVICES ISSUES.

THAT COMBINED WITH THE

GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE IS UNIQUE.

SO IT'S A POSITIVE IN THIS

ENVIRONMENT TO DEAL WITH WHAT

ARE TWO NEAR CATASTROPHIC

EVENTS.

THEY ARE LEVEL TWO DISASTERS AS

FAR AS THE NATION IS CONCERNED.

AND THAT MEANS THEORY EQUIVALENT

TO SUPER STORM SANDY AND KATRINA

AND SOME OF THE MAJOR NAME

STORMS THAT OCCURRED.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S UNIQUE.

THAT OUTSIDE AWARENESS OF WHAT

THE NEEDS ARE HERE AND THE

OPPORTUNITY.

HAVING SAID THAT, THE VOLUNTARY

ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PRIVATE

NON-PROFITS WITHIN THE STATE

HAVE BEEN VERY PHENOMENAL IN

STEPPING UP TO TRY TO HELP CLOSE

THE GAP AND THEY WILL BE PART OF

THAT SOLUTION.

>> WE SAW THIS AFTER KATRINA.

THERE'S ALWAYS FRAUD.

WHAT DID WE LEARN IN DEALING

WITH FRAUD.

>> WHEN IT COMES FROM FEMA

ASSISTANCE, WE'RE GOING TO AIR

ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.

SO WHAT'S PROBABLY MOST

IMPORTANT IS THAT WE GET THE

DISASTER ASSISTANCE IN THE HANDS

AND FLOOD INSURANCE CLAIMS MONEY

IN THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO NEED

IT AS SOON AS WE CAN THROUGH THE

PROCESS.

AND THEN THERE IS A PROCESS TO

DEAL WITH THAT.

SO THERE'S A PROCESS FOR THE

ONES MEANT TO DO THAT.

>> VICTIMS WHO ARE VICTIMIZED BY

CONTRACTORS AND THINGS LIKE

THAT.

>> SHE WOULD REFER US TO THE

ATTORNEYS THAT WORK WITH THE

STATE.

>> HOW DOES THE MONEY AFTER THE

DISASTER HERE COMPARED TO THE

AMOUNT OF MONEY AFRICA TRINA?

I KEEP HEARING PEOPLE SAYING THE

FEDS ARE HOLDING BACK BECAUSE SO

MANY PEOPLE SCAMMED THE SYSTEM.

ARE WE FEELING CONSEQUENCES NOW

BECAUSE OF WHATEVER HAPPENED

THEN?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

NO CONSEQUENCES WHATSOEVER ON

THE DISASTER VICTIMS AND

SURVIVORS.

ASSISTANCE IS BASED ON THE

HOUSEHOLD MAKE UP AND THE

IMPACTS WHETHER THE SURVIVOR WAS

A REN -- RENTER OR A HOMEOWNER.

AND THE MAXIMUM GRANT WHICH IS

HARD TO REACH BECAUSE THERE'S A

LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.

BUT THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 2800 OF

FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS.

SO, AGAIN, IT'S A TIERED SYSTEM

AND BASED ON THE IMPACTS TO THAT

HOUSEHOLD.

AND THE HOUSEHOLD MAKE UP.

>> WE ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS

LEFT.

THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT

PROGRAMS OUT THERE.

IS THERE A CLEARINGHOUSE.

ONE PLACE THAT VICTIMS CAN GO TO

GET INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE

VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT ARE

AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM?

>> THE GOVERNOR'S WEB SITE IS A

GREAT PLACE TO GO TO SEE

RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE

RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL SAY THAT DOESN'T EXIST FOR

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND

BECAUSE THE PROGRAMS DON'T EXIST

YET.

BUT THEY WILL AND THEY WILL BE

OUTREACHED TO FIND FOLKS AND

MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT'S

AVAILABLE TO THEM.

>> DISASTERASSISTANCE.GOV IS A

GOOD PLACE TO GO AS WELL.

AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT

HAVE PROGRAMS, NOT JUST SBA.

PROGRAMS USDA AND OTHERS HAVE

PROGRAMS IN THEIR AREAS OF

RESPONSIBILITY.

SO I WOULD SAY TAKE A LOOK AT

THOSE OTHER WEB SITES AND

DISASTER ASSISTANCE IS A GOOD

PLACE TO START.

>> WELL WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME

FOR OUR QUESTION AND ANSWER

SEGMENT. WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR

PANELISTS - MR. RICKARD, MS.

DEJOIE, MR. KNAPP AND MR. FORBES

- FOR THEIR INSIGHT ON THIS

MONTH'S TOPIC. WHEN WE COME

BACK WE'LL HAVE A FEW CLOSING

>> WELL, CERTAINLY WE HAD SOME

GREAT INFORMATION TONIGHT.

IT'S A LONG ROAD NOW TO

RECOVERY.

AND A LOT OF INFORMATION STILL

NEEDS TO BE GATHERED.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE CAN SAY A

LOT OF QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND A

LOT OF QUESTIONS UNANSWERED.

AND THIS IS A LONG PROCESS.

>> WE CAN GO ON FOR A LONG TIME.

SCHOOL RECOVERY AS WELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

AND SO LITTLE TIME.

WE STILL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT ALL

THE PEOPLE DEAL WITHING THIS ON

A DAILY BASIS.

>> WELL THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE

HAVE FOR THIS EDITION OF

WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO COMMENT

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW AT LPB DOT

O-R-G SLASH PUBLIC SQUARE. WE'D

LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

ON NEXT MONTH'S LOUISIANA PUBLIC

SQUARE, WE'LL REVISIT A

CONVERSATION WE HAD IN MAY ABOUT