JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — An estimated 850 families lined up for food and cleaning supplies at a drive-thru event at Church of the King in Kenner.
Volunteers from Convoy of Hope, the United Cajun Navy, AETNA, and others gave their time to help neighbors who flooded during last week’s Hurricane Francine.
The large turnout is an indication of the continuing impacts of the storm in Jefferson Parish.
President Biden has approved the state’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration following Francine.
Despite nearly 400 damaged homes in Kenner, JP parish was left off the initial list of parishes qualifying for FEMA assistance.
The list now includes Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. James, and St. John Parish in the New Orleans area along with Ascension, Assumption, and St. Mary Parishes.
“I think we received as much, if not more damage than other communities in Jefferson Parish,” said Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley. “That’s just something that has to be straightened out.”
Arita Bohannan who represents Kenner on the JP Council said some storm victims are reluctant to report their damages fearing their insurance rates will go up.
“We need as many people to report their damages as possible,” Bohanan said. “Not necessarily to report them to their insurance company, but to report them to the state, so we can keep an accurate track of how many people were impacted.”
According to a spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, typically the first list of parishes included in a federal disaster declaration is rarely the final list, and Jefferson Parish still has time to qualify for individual or public assistance based on FEMA guidelines.
JP President Cynthia Lee Sheng said she was shocked the parish didn’t make the initial list.
“There’s an add-on process. We clearly meet our threshold for that, and we far exceed that threshold in terms of damage both on Category A and Category B. I fully expect that we would be added to that list, eventually. If not, you’re going to hear a lot more from me on this issue, but I’m hoping it was just a timing thing.”
Rep. Troy Carter, D-Louisiana said Major Disaster Declarations require specific criteria.
“Jefferson Parish, and others, are currently making the assessment to determine if they have the damage required for individual or public assistance based on FEMA’s guidelines,” Carter said. “Parishes will be added as they meet the threshold requirements.”
A Federal Disaster Declaration allows local communities to draw down FEMA funds for storm-related expenses such as debris removal.
Individuals may also qualify for financial assistance to help cover uninsured or underinsured losses.
Here are some links to help victims report storm damage:
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