Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, chair of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced Thursday $8.4 million in federal funding for hurricane recovery efforts in Louisiana. The funding is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and will go toward the New Orleans East Hospital.
"Today's funding helps ensure that our hospital patients who cannot be evacuated in the event of a future disaster will be safe and secure in these facilities," Senator Landrieu said. "With all of the stress and worry that comes with an approaching tropical storm or hurricane, our hospital patients and their relatives should not have to worry about whether our buildings are prepared to withstand strong winds and debris."
"Delivering a quality full-service hospital to residents in New Orleans East has been a top priority for my administration," said Mayor Landrieu. "We have taken significant steps to make this priority a reality. The Hospital Service District and I will continue to do all that we can to ensure that no resident of New Orleans has to endure a 30-minute drive in order to reach a hospital. This $8.4 million hazard mitigation grant helps us greatly and brings us closer to having the funding necessary for this important hospital project."
The east tower of the hospital will be strengthened to withstand winds over 130 mph, and primary electrical equipment will be elevated to avoid flood damage.
An emergency back-up generator will be purchased and elevated as well. The tower's existing exterior surface will be replaced with a curtain wall glazing/metal panel system, and the roof will be improved to withstand the uplift forces associated with hurricane winds. The structural framing system will be retrofitted and exterior doors replaced.
