U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said Louisiana will receive $16,501,434.53 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in relief for Hurricanes Laura and Ida.

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury will receive $1,610,221.78 of this amount. According to CPPJ Finance Director Kelly Fontenot, this FEMA project funding is a reimbursement to cover replacement of all road signs in Calcasieu Parish damaged by Hurricane Laura. Total cost to replace the signs was $1,789,135.31 of which FEMA reimburses 90 percent.

Thomas Hoefer, spokesperson for the CPPJ, said the Police Jury has received just under $240 million to date in reimbursements for expenditures that the Parish has already incurred. The reporting process with FEMA is ongoing, he said. The Police Jury will continue to receive additional funds for expenditures incurred.

“For example, the drainage debris removal program is still ongoing,” Hoefer said. “The Parish is also in the process of filing project grant requests with FEMA on activity related to the repair of various buildings.”

In the emailed press release announcing the federal grant monies, Cassidy said, “We should never see blue tarps on roofs years after a storm hits.”