The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has obligated $1,608,031.43 as part of hurricane recovery efforts for the Society of the Roman Catholic Church (Diocese of Lake Charles).
The funding, made available through the major disaster declaration for Hurricane Laura (DR-4559-LA), is for repayment of the first phase of repairs at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School in Lake Charles.
Diocesan funds totaling $1,786,702 were used to pay for the project in the middle school portion of the school, so the reimbursement is good news as the Diocese continues to rebuild from the catastrophic hurricanes of 2020.
The announcement was made by U.S. Congressman Clay Higgins, R-La., on November 6. The federal grant is the single largest reimbursement for a repair project since the Diocese of Lake Charles began recovery efforts.
The reimbursement of diocesan funds will be made at 90% federal cost-share and authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.
Once a project is obligated by FEMA, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) will work closely with the Diocese to finalize the grant and begin the reimbursement process.
The Diocese continues to fund the temporary school campus of St. Margaret being used by elementary grade level students. In addition to this and other ongoing major repair projects, the Diocese also funds the temporary campuses at Our Lady’s Catholic School in Sulphur and St. Louis Catholic High School in Lake Charles.
FEMA has regularly obligated funds for the temporary campuses, as well as temporary storage for several schools and churches, all at 90%.
Pending additional significant reimbursements from FEMA for work that the Diocese of Lake Charles has funded, there are many churches, parish halls, administrative and other ancillary structures that are waiting to begin the repair or rebuild processes.
