N.O. challenging FEMA damage estimates for two NOPD stations

WWL-TV reports:

For more than three years, the City of New Orleans and FEMA have battled over whether New Orleans needs to rebuild or replace both the Fifth District Station and the Seventh District Station in New Orleans East.

“We feel the Seventh District is about 85 percent damaged, and the Fifth District is 75 percent damaged,” said New Orleans Capitol Projects Director Bill Chrisman.

According to FEMA, New Orleans could repair the Fifth District Station for $1 million, but the city argues that it needs to be replaced for $6.5 million, a discrepancy of $5.5 million.

As for the Seventh District, FEMA estimates repair costs at just $750,000, while New Orleans argues it also needs replaced at a cost of $5.5 million.

So the city is appealing.

That appeals process could take months, and could ultimately end with New Orleans taking FEMA to court. . . .

In all, the city argues FEMA should pay more than $1 billion for all 280 damaged buildings, while they say FEMA only wants to fund $350 million worth of repairs or replacements.

Posted by MBC at January 16, 2009 02:08 PM