Speaking before a House subcommittee reviewing the federal response to Louisiana’s August flooding, Gov. John Bel Edwards said today the state’s housing need is projected to exceed $1.2 billion.
As The Associated Press reports, Edwards is in Washington, D.C., for a two-day trip to appeal to Congress to approve $2 billion in aid for his state after catastrophic flooding caused more than $8.7 billion in damage.
He told the committee that the money is needed for housing, economic development and public works. “Simply put, we cannot recover without it,” Edwards told lawmakers.
He is also asking for Congress to help Louisiana rebuild its transportation network after many roads were washed out, and money for mental health and support services for families, among other requests.
Edwards said the longer it takes to get federal money, more people will decide to leave their homes and communities.
“We will see a much longer, harder road to recovery,” he said.
Edwards met with members of Congress and administration officials, and he and Louisiana lawmakers hope flood aid can be part of spending legislation that Congress must soon pass to keep the government operating past month’s end.
The Democratic governor praised the federal response so far but urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency to speed up delivery of manufactured housing units for thousands of displaced residents.
“While the response with manufactured housing units has been quicker than any other Louisiana disaster, it has not been fast enough for the families in Louisiana who have lost their homes and have no place to go,” Edwards said.
House Republicans criticized FEMA.
Rep. John Mica, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee that held the hearing, said he only saw one functioning mobile housing unit on a trip to the area two weeks after the flood. Under questioning from Mica, R-Fla., FEMA regional administrator Tony Robinson was not able to say how many units are built and functioning.
“I’ll have to get back with you on that,” Robinson said.
Mayors from the flooded region asked for more help from the federal government. They said federal assistance has been inadequate in many cases, and they cited a lack of communication with federal officials and arcane rules for a slow recovery.
Mayor Jr. Shelton of Central said he had no direct point of contact with FEMA for three weeks after the disaster.
“That debris that’s out there? That’s not debris, it’s people’s lives,” Shelton said. “We have suicides, we have mental breakdowns, we have families being torn apart.”
