FEMA Denies Grand Isle Request For Levee Repairs

GRAND ISLE, La. (AP) - Grand Isle officials have been met with another setback as they try to determine how to rebuild their first-line storm defense.

The town's levees were torn up again by heavy storms three weeks ago. WVUE-TV reports the Federal Emergency Management Agency notified officials Friday that it had rejected the levee as eligible for funding for repairs.

Mayor David Camardelle said they plan to appeal FEMA's decision.

Meanwhile, the Grand Isle Levee District met to try and figure out how to shore up a 2,000-foot section of shredded levee in need of an estimated $6 million in repairs. But after years of problems with the levee, the mayor wants the repair done right.

"We want to know if we belong to Louisiana and the U.S.," Camardelle said.

The levee district said rocks are needed about 200 yards off the beach to protect the levee from future damage.

"It's frustrating to ask for $6 million for a patch-up job," Camardelle said.

Rocks are already in place in other sections of Grand Isle beach. Officials said they offer excellent protection, and in some cases, build new beach. They're now needed off the western shore.

"Put some more rocks on the outside, do it right so I don't have to knock every six months to repair something," Camardelle said.

With no solution in sight right now, officials worry. Hurricane season starts in just two months.

Grand Isle officials will go to Baton Rouge next week to try and find a solution. In the meantime, the mayor said he will perform an emergency patch on the damaged levee if a storm approaches.

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