WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $33,379,317.52 in federal funds for debris removal and emergency generator services provided following the destruction caused by Hurricane Laura. Today’s payments are being made under the standard 75 percent federal and 25 percent state cost share. Due in part to Cassidy’s work with Presidents Trump and Biden, FEMA announced this week that Hurricane Laura has been approved for a 90/10 cost share. FEMA has informed Cassidy’s office that they are currently preparing a second payment to cover the difference between the 75 percent and 90 percent cost shares.
“Hurricane Laura saddled families, towns and cities with a high cost to rebuild and recover,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This funding, and the additional money we will receive, is welcome to get our communities back on their feet.”
The Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative is receiving $19.2 million for supplying temporary generators to maintain power distribution for more than 11,000 customers in southwest Louisiana until substations and transformers were repaired. The sheer force of Hurricane Laura disrupted the electrical supply to eight of the Jeff Davis Electric Co-op’s power distribution substations.
The city of Sulphur is receiving $14.2 million for debris removal in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. Approximately 840,000 cubic yards of debris were cleared over a six-month period following the storm.
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