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Governor Proposes Plan For $1.2 Billion In Federal Flood Recovery Money

Louisiana is set to receive $1.2 billion in recovery money as a result of the August flooding.

On Friday, Governor John Bel Edwards presented a plan that would predominately direct that $1.2 billion--approved by Congress in December--towards housing recovery, the state’s biggest need following the flood.

Back in September, Louisiana secured $437 million from Congress that will also go towards repairing homes. Those with low-to-moderate income, the elderly or disabled will receive first priority.

This second funding allotment will be more widespread, offering assistance to anyone without flood insurance whose home received major or severe damage.

But the Governor says it is still not enough to fully address the problem.

“While $1.6 billion sounds like a lot of money and it certainly is a lot of money," he explains, "it is still $1 billion short of what we need for housing recovery alone.”

According to Edwards, another $2 billion is needed to adequately repair all the damage caused by the flooding.

The money appropriated by Congress does not include plans for infrastructure improvements, which the Governor says could protect the state from damage of future floods. Since August, the Governor has made five trips to Washington, D.C. requesting money from Congress. He stressed he’ll continue doing so to secure more funding.

This report has been brought to you by the Louisiana Public Radio Partnership, and made possible with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.