Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, LA
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What is the Calcasieu Parish Long-Term Hurricane Recovery Framework all about? Watch this short video for an overview.
In January, Police Jury officials joined with Gov. John Bel Edwards and other community leaders to announce the start of this long-term community process. Since then, the Police Jury has worked in close coordination with local, state, and federal partners; non-governmental organizations; and community stakeholders to implement this recovery framework.
As part of the recovery process, the Police Jury formed six stakeholder groups focused on key recovery areas: planning and capacity building, economic development, health and social services, housing, infrastructure, and natural and cultural resources. The groups are known as recovery support functions (RSFs) and are led by Calcasieu Parish residents and key leaders in their respective disciplines and organizations. These RSF groups are currently gathering input for potential projects or opportunities that can facilitate Calcasieu Parish’s long-term recovery.
“It is encouraging to see so many residents of Calcasieu Parish join together in helping to guide our recovery from these devastating storms,” said Calcasieu Parish Administrator Bryan Beam. “Our hope is that this process serves as a strong foundation for how we work together moving forward to identify priorities, implement strategies, and secure the resources that will become crucial to our long-term recovery and resiliency.” All input gathered through this process will be considered for incorporation into the Police Jury’s long-term recovery plan, which will be finalized and publicly released in early summer.
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury's Hurricanes Laura and Delta Recovery Framework's mission is to restore, redevelop, and revitalize local resiliency in Calcasieu Parish by uniting as a “Whole Community” to develop and maintain a comprehensive Recovery Plan in accordance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF).
To see a brief summary of the initiative, click HERE.
To see the entire framework in detail, click HERE.
To see the PowerPoint from the Jan. 21 Police Jury meeting, click HERE.
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Results from Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding public meetings
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury recently held two public meetings about Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funding. Louisiana was allocated more than $3.1 billion in federal CDBG–DR funding for areas impacted by 2020-21 disaster events. As part of this federal allocation, the Calcasieu Parish Policy Jury was awarded $26,704,450 in funding for eligible projects in Calcasieu Parish through the state's Hometown Revitalization Program and Resilient Communities Infrastructure Program.
To see a full listing of the questions and answers from each meeting, click HERE.
Police Jury Receives Update on Restore Louisiana Program
May 20, 2022 - At its May 19, 2022 meeting, the Police Jury received an update from Mr. Pat Forbes, Executive Director of the Louisiana Office of Community Development, on the Restore Louisiana Program to support long-term
recovery efforts from the 2020 and 2021 disasters.
View his PowerPoint presentation HERE.
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Police Jury Adopts Resolution Requesting Additional HUD Disaster Recovery Funding
Oct. 22, 2021 – The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury at its Oct. 21 meeting unanimously adopted a resolution requesting an increased disaster appropriations package for Southwest Louisiana to address the “unmet needs” of recovery efforts from Hurricanes Laura and Delta.
The request is for the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Program to make the full $5 billion in funding available for states with disasters declared in 2020 and take into consideration Louisiana’s more than $1.6 billion in unmet needs as the result of multiple, federally declared disasters.
“We call upon our entire Louisiana Legislative Delegation and Congressional Delegation to fully support and lend the full effort and influence of their offices to work with President Biden, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and fellow members of Congress toward an increased disaster appropriations package for our region that gives every consideration to the request of Governor Edwards in January of 2021, and the two federally declared disasters following that request, to address the significant unmet needs of our region and state,” according to the resolution.
The Police Jury’s resolution cites the unprecedented circumstances of two hurricanes striking the region during a global pandemic in 2020, which were compounded by the winter storm and spring flooding events in 2021. It also mentions the enormous personal, emotional, and economic impacts of the storms and the insufficiency of current appropriations.
“It is critical that we continue to impress upon key decision-makers the enormous, unmet needs here in Calcasieu Parish more than a year after multiple disasters. We know from experience that the opportunities are few and far between to obtain disaster aid, and we must take every opportunity to push for adequate, long-term recovery funding for the people of Calcasieu Parish,” said Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire.
The resolution is being sent to the Biden administration, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge, and to all members of the Louisiana legislative and congressional delegations.
The full resolution can be viewed HERE.
Hurricane recovery press conference
Aug. 26 -- FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Gov. John Bel Edwards were in Lake Charles on Thursday, Aug. 26 to discuss hurricane recovery, right ahead of the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura on Aug. 27. To see the video of the 10 a.m. press conference, click the box below.
Final Version of the Long-Term Recovery Plan
Aug. 19, 2021 --The Final version of the the Calcasieu Parish Hurricanes Laura and Delta Long-Term Community Recovery Plan, which includes public comment, can be viewed HERE. The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury approved the final plan at their August 19 Regular Meeting.
Police Jury Releases First Draft of Long-Term Community Recovery Plan
July 22, 2021 – The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury received a first draft of the Calcasieu Long-Term Community Recovery Plan at its July 22 Regular Meeting. The document is the collaborative result of more than six months of research and planning by six stakeholder groups focused on key recovery areas. The plan outlines specific priorities for Calcasieu Parish to fully rebuild and recover from the storms and to create a stronger, more resilient community.
The six stakeholder groups -- named Recovery Support Functions (RSFs) by the Federal Emergency Management Agency-- are led and organized by Calcasieu Parish residents and key leaders in their respective disciplines. The RSFs include planning and capacity building, economic development, health and social services, housing, infrastructure, and natural and cultural resources.
“We are pleased to see the results of the stakeholder groups’ tremendous efforts, and we thank the members for their dedicated service and creative ideas,” said Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire. “The priorities contained in the long-term recovery plan will serve as a strong foundation for our future as we recover.”
After the public input period ending August 13, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury is scheduled to consider the long-term recovery plan for adoption on August 19.
Police Jury President Hand Delivers Resolution to President Biden Asking for Federal Supplemental Appropriations for Hurricane Recovery
During President Joe Biden’s visit to Lake Charles on Thursday, May 6, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire personally delivered a copy of a resolution in support of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ supplemental appropriations request to fund recovery efforts from Hurricanes Laura and Delta.
“It was an honor to meet with President Biden at such a critical time in our disaster recovery process,” Abshire said. “It was also an opportunity to formally advocate, on behalf of our community, for timely federal disaster funding, in addition to major infrastructure needs, like the I-10 Bridge replacement project.”
The request is for $3 billion in Community Development Block Grant funding to meet the unfulfilled needs in Louisiana’s storm-affected areas.
The Police Jury unanimously approved the resolution at its April 8, 2021 meeting. It has already been sent to the Biden administration and to the Louisiana congressional delegation urging passage of the additional appropriation.
“We call upon our entire Louisiana United States congressional delegation to fully support and lend the full effort and influence of their office to work with President Biden’s administration and fellow members of Congress toward a disaster supplemental appropriation for our region that gives every consideration to the data provided by Governor Edwards’ administration toward addressing the significant unmet needs of our region and state,” according to the resolution.
The Police Jury’s resolution cites the unprecedented circumstance of two hurricanes striking the region during a global pandemic, the enormous personal, emotional, and economic impacts of the storms and the insufficiency of current appropriations.
The resolution can be viewed on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s website at www.calcasieu.gov/recovery. The Governor’s request is available at https://gov.louisiana.gov/assets/docs/Letters/Letter-Pres-Biden-1-26.pdf.
To see what Abshire said about his brief experience with President Biden at Thursday's Police Jury meeting, click below. His comments begin at 27:05.
Police Jury Approves Resolution Supporting Federal Supplemental Appropriations Request
Resolution to be Sent to Congressional Delegation, Biden Administration
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury unanimously approved a resolution in support of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ supplemental appropriations request to fund recovery efforts from Hurricanes Laura and Delta at their April 8, 2021 meeting. The Governor’s request is for $3 billion in Community Development Block Grant funding to meet unmet needs in storm-affected areas of Louisiana.
The resolution is being sent to the Louisiana congressional delegation and the Biden administration urging passage of the additional appropriation.
“We call upon our entire Louisiana United States congressional delegation to fully support and lend the full effort and influence of their office to work with President Biden’s administration and fellow members of Congress toward a disaster supplemental appropriation for our region that gives every consideration to the data provided by Governor Edwards’ administration toward addressing the significant unmet needs of our region and state,” according to the resolution.
The Police Jury’s resolution cites the unprecedented circumstance of two hurricanes striking the region during a global pandemic, the enormous personal, emotional, and economic impacts of the storms and the insufficiency of current appropriations.
“Our people are hurting,” said Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire. “Hopefully, this resolution and the support of all of Southwest Louisiana for the Governor’s supplemental request will spur the federal government to act quickly. We encourage residents to contact their congressional members to express their support for funding, and urge other local governments to adopt similar resolutions.”
To view all documents relating to the resolution, including the request sent by Gov. Edwards Click HereCalcasieu Parish Hosts Hurricane Recovery Public Meeting
Watch the meeting by clicking below:
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Making Progress
Members of Recovery Support Function 2 - Economy meet at the SEED Center to discuss short term, mid-term and long term impacts, issues, challenges and opportunities that the stakeholders are facing due to the storms.
Making progress
The initial informational and orientation meeting for the leads and co-leads of the Calcasieu Parish Hurricane Recovery Framework was held Feb. 3. At this meeting, participants were presented with expectations and responsibilities for their role in leading various recovery support functions, and were also provide with resources to assist with developing recommendations for long-term recovery priorities for Calcasieu Parish. FEMA and various state agency representatives were also present and will continue to play a significant support role moving forward.
To see the Jan. 26 press conference announcing the recovery framework plan, click the box below:
At its Jan. 21 meeting, Police Jurors received a report from staff regarding long-term disaster recovery efforts in Calcasieu Parish. To see the presentation, click the box below (the presentation starts 5 minutes and 50 seconds in):