Hearings set to plan $600M in La. storm recovery for Delta, Laura victims

(lailluminator.com) — State officials are asking for public input on Louisiana’s plan to spend $600 million in federal money designated for areas impacted during the 2021 hurricane season. The dollars are meant to target areas such as housing and infrastructure damaged during hurricanes Laura and Delta.

Four in-person meetings and a virtual hearing are scheduled from March 9 to 16, with events set in Alexandria, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport. Dates, times and registration information can be found at www.restore.la.gov/action-plan. Public comment will be accepted for at least 30 days after each event.

With the information gathered from the hearings, state officials will submit specific funding requests to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to launch initiatives already designated through Restore Louisiana, the state’s federal disaster assistance program. They include $189 million to address owner-occupied homes that need repairs, $107 million to repair and expand affordable rental housing and $196 million for infrastructure projects and non-federal cost-share programs.

Homeowners with damage from Laura or Delta must first register to take part in the Restore Louisiana program. They are asked to complete a survey available at restore.la.gov or call 866-735-2001.

This article originally published in the February 28, 2022 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.