Corridor gets more than one-third of federal recovery funds

The corridor will get more than one-third of the latest round of federal recovery aid for damage caused by hurricanes Gustav and Ike. All of the 17 parishes along interstates 10 and 12 will get a piece of the pie, with Iberville getting the largest slice [more than $44 million] and Jefferson Davis, the smallest [$334,500]. In all, 53 Louisiana parishes will share $565.5 million, with nearly $213 million [about 38%] scattered along the corridor. The Community Development Block Grant funds are intended to rebuild homes, repair infrastructure and ensure that communities are better prepared for future storms. Here’s how much the remaining parishes along the corridor will get: East Baton Rouge, $34.2 million; Jefferson, $27.1 million; Ascension, $19.3 million; Calcasieu, $17.7 million; Livingston, $11.2 million; St. James, $10.5 million; Tangipahoa, $10 million; West Baton Rouge, $8.2 million; St. John the Baptist, $7 million; St. Martin, $5.3 million; St. Charles, $4.8 million; Lafayette, $3.8 million; St. Tammany, $3.8 million; Acadia, $2.5 million; and Orleans, $2 million. Awards are based on damage, which was determined by a Department of Housing & Urban Development analysis of FEMA assessments. This is the state’s second award, bringing the total recovery plan to $800 million.