FEMA reimuburses $3.5 million for tree removal

After more than two years, the federal government has reimbursed St. Tammany Parish government $3.5 million for removal of hurricane-toppled trees and other debris from private property.

The money could be the last financial shot in the arm parish officials will receive from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for debris removal, FEMA spokesman Andrew Thomas said.

The latest allotment is a reimbursement for parish-funded work paid to contractors Omni Pinnacle LLC and Stranco Inc., starting in May 2006 through February. It’s the third time FEMA has sent money to fund St. Tammany’s hurricane debris removal since 2005.

Shortly after the Hurricane Katrina, FEMA allocated $7.6 million to remove downed trees and debris from more than 3,000 private properties. An estimated 450,000 cubic yards of debris was removed, according to a FEMA work order.

Later, another $692,000 was allotted to remove barges, a 28-foot sailboat and clean debris from an additional 882 homes, Thomas wrote in an email.

“We have all been working hard with FEMA to get the reimbursements that are so important to continue removing debris and rebuilding our educational infrastructure,” Congressman Steve Scalise, R- Metairie, said.