Natchitoches Parish President Rick Nowlin and staff, representatives of the Natchitoches Parish OHSEP, and Mayor Lee Posey of the City of Natchitoches met today with Mark Riley, Deputy Director of Recovery, and Teresa Basco, Region 6 Coordinator with GOHSEP. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the post-event activities and documentation that will be required in the event that the Parish is covered under a Federal Declaration of Emergency.

Regulations require the Governor to request a Presidential declaration within 30 days from the last date of the Event. The flooding of the Red River in Natchitoches Parish started on May 28th and it is anticipated that the Event will be kept open with FEMA until the flood waters have receded. In light of the potential for new flooding due to Tropical Storm Bill, GOHSEP is working with FEMA representatives to keep the current Event open as a continuing event. As many of the tributaries are still full, Louisiana could see another round of flooding in early July once the new rainfall moves down the Red River.

If it is determined that the damage caused by the flooding exceeds the monetary damage indicator as published by FEMA, a Preliminary Damage Assessment will be requested and performed in conjunction with FEMA, GOHSEP and the Parish OHSEP office. In the event that the Parish does receive a FEMA Public Assistance Declaration, all recovery activities will require the Parish to have a 25% cost share.

Press Release: NPG-Parish President Rick Nowlin