Louisiana is asking the federal government for an additional $3 billion in aid to help pay for recovery in communities affected by hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta last year.
Gov. John Bel Edwards wrote to President
“As in previous times of difficulty, Louisianans have once again risen to meet the challenges of rebuilding by helping their friends, neighbors and even total strangers begin the process of starting anew,” Edwards wrote. “While we do not doubt the ability of our citizens to recover, we need the help of the federal government to make that recovery complete.”
Hurricane Laura hit southwest Louisiana on Aug. 27, Hurricane Delta made landfall on Oct. 9 and on Oct. 28, Hurricane Zeta struck southeast Louisiana.
The state is facing $396.3 million in homeowner needs, $481.7 million in renter needs, $130 million in non-federal FEMA public assistance cost share, $50 million in non-federal FEMA hazard mitigation cost share, $25 million in transportation damages, $576.4 million in estimated crop losses and $1.397 billion in estimated timber losses.
Separately, Edwards signed an executive order authorizing a $488 million carry-forward private-activity bond allocation for 2021, to avoid losing that amount, which was allocated for 2020, but not used.
By executive order, the governor can allocate some or all of the unused amount to issuers for certain carry-forward projects.
The governor allocated the excess private activity bond volume as follows: the Louisiana Housing Corp.’s $75.123 million for multifamily housing; the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority’s $125 million for Element U.S. and $44 million for DG Fuels; and the Louisiana Community Development Authority’s $200 million for LA Greenfield and $44 million for American Biocarbon.
