The money is on its way to Baton Rouge. Next stop, West Cal Port. On Tuesday, U.S. Sens.  Bill Cassidy, (R-LA) and John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced West Calcasieu Port will receive $3,127,640 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Hurricane Laura relief. 

Port Director Lynn Hohensee said the announcement marks progress, but doesn’t mean funds are in hand. Work won’t begin right away. 

“As with all public facilities affected by Laura and Delta, it’s been a lengthy process,” he said. “Some public entities have full-time staff to handle the paperwork. We worked with consultants to manage our way through the red tape because they have an understanding of the process and what needs to be done. It’s been laborious and challenging.” 

He explained the next step. These obligated FEMA dollars will go to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOSHEP). Bids will go out to contractors. West Cal Port will choose a contractor. The work will be completed. The Port will pay the contractor and then send receipts to Baton Rouge for reimbursement. 

“These are taxpayers’ dollars at work, and the guardian of these tax dollars doesn’t want to see them spent irresponsibly,” Hohensee added.  

Monies will be used to demolish one of the port’s buildings and move it. Tenant for the building was VLS, a company that cleans and services wet barges. Hohensee said the building will be reconstructed at a higher elevation – a more favorable water and wind resilient option – on port property. After demolition and improvements, the vacated property will be used as a laydown yard to benefit truck to barge and barge to truck transitions. 

Hohensee also named Congressman Higgins for his assistance in securing the funding. 

The West Cal Port is located 20 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, one mile off the Calcasieu River Ship Channel, along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The port offers 2,500 linear feet of waterfront with a 12-ft. draft. Road limit accommodates up to 80,000 lbs., with a barge drive-on/drive-off loading ramp and bulk potable water available.