Two FEMA/city of Port Arthur meetings held Monday night
Published 10:25 pm Tuesday, October 10, 2017
By David Ball
Port Arthur residents had two opportunities to learn about Federal Emergency Management Agency programs and what’s required to rebuild on Monday night.
Kurt Pickering, field public information officer for the FEMA, said the two meetings were held to announce what programs are available and to answer questions.
At the first meeting of the Lakeside Community Center, the building was so full that Pickering couldn’t enter. At the second one at the Westside Community Development Center, elevation issues, as in raising houses above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), was discussed.
“There was some unhappiness expressed,” he said. “The unhappiness was about building back and the elevations.
“It got rowdy when the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) expert said the water released was not a manmade contribution that caused the flooding, but it was an act of God. We had 57 inches of rain. It was an unprecedented event. They became quite vocal.”
Pickering wanted to remind the public the deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is Oct. 24. Registration can be done by going to www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Residents with either speech or hearing challenges can call 1-800-462-7585.
Brian McDougal, city manager for Port Arthur, said the primary goal for the city is to get information to homeowners.
“Just because you live in a floodplain doesn’t mean you can’t rebuild,” he said. “The meetings also offer an opportunity to talk with our FEMA and SBA (Small Business Administration) partners.”
McDougal said if a homeowner gets an elevation certificate and it’s one foot above BFE, that homeowner can get a permit t rebuild.
