City of New Orleans Announces Sarah T. Reed High School Wind Retrofit Project on Two-Year Anniversary of the New Orleans East Tornado
NEW ORLEANS — Today, on the two-year anniversary of the New Orleans East tornado, Mayor LaToya Cantrell announces approved funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to retrofit the Sarah T. Reed High School building against the threat of high winds and wind-driven rain.
“In New Orleans, we know how to stand back up after a storm knocks us down--- and with the funding from this grant, the Sarah T. Reed High School will be able to stand up that much stronger,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “I’m proud that we were able to work with FEMA and with all of our partners at the state and local level to make this happen.”
The approved $532,000 award is provided through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), which was requested by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness on behalf of Orleans Parish after the devastating 2017 tornado in New Orleans East. A local share of an additional $177,000 will bring the project total to $709,000.
The project will retrofit the entire building envelope, including the roof, supporting joists and ceilings, doors, and windows against winds up to 135 miles per hour. Design and construction are expected to be complete by 2020.
HMGP funding is made available for eligible mitigation projects after certain federally-declared disasters, including the EF-3 tornado that touched down in New Orleans East on February 7, 2017 and severely damaged approximately 300 properties in its 2.5 mile path. The City’s Hazard Mitigation Office, housed in the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP), worked with city officials and the New Orleans School Board to identify and secure funding for the project.
“We are very thankful to city leaders for making sure this funding was available to allow us to modify the Einstein High School building at Sarah T. Reed so it can be more resilient during any major wind event,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. “The tornado that struck New Orleans East two years ago took us all by surprise. However, with this funding, we can continue to provide a high-quality education and keep our students and school staff safe during unexpected weather conditions.”
"I would like to thank the Cantrell Administration for their commitment and dedication to ensure the Reed High School building is safe for our children. This investment will help support a positive learning environment and provide a safe working place for our teachers and faculty," said District E Councilwoman Cindy Nguyen.
An additional $28,000 in HMGP funding was awarded to the City of New Orleans for community education and outreach on the topic of flood preparedness and response. Those funds will be used to further develop the NOLA Ready emergency preparedness campaign, managed by NOHSEP.
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