November 19 marked the conclusion of the official Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) conducted in Webster Parish.

Included in the first assessment were members of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security (GOHSEP), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Webster Parish Police Jury (WPPJ) and the Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (WPOHSEP).

The PDA followed a formal request submitted by WPOHSEP, a division of the Webster Parish Police Jury, to the governor’s office in a regional effort to determine general estimates of both public and individual damages from storms and flooding that occurred in October and November.

“In order to determine whether or not the state is even eligible for federal funding assistance, we have to start at the local level in determining public damages and expenses,” said WPOHSEP Director John Stanley. “With the state facing a $5.8 million threshold, which it must meet in public damages, every penny counted by public agencies in the emergency-declared parishes can have a significant impact on everyone.”

Stanley said Webster Parish has an approximate $137,000 local public damage.  

“We’ve determined that we have surpassed that amount significantly and are still awaiting additional figures that will only add to that,” Stanley said.

During the two-day visit by the PDA teams, local, state and federal officials gathered preliminary information and estimates on both public and individual damages.  The intent for this visit was to obtain a snapshot and overview of how Webster Parish was affected by the emergency event.  

Webster Police Jury personnel assisted in the coordination of the assessments as they led the out-of-town visitors to some of the most damaged areas of the parish.

“It may still be several weeks before the State knows whether or not it is eligible for federal funding,” said Stanley. “And even at that point, it will most likely take more time to determine what expenses and damages would be eligible. So we’re asking that people and public officials be very patient.”

Stanley said every damage that was reported by public entities and private property owners has been extremely helpful in demonstrating both the physical and economic impact that the storms and flooding have had on Webster Parish.

“We can only hope for the best at this point, but do so in knowing that we have taken every possible step we could to have paved the way for potential assistance,” said Stanley. “The ball’s out of our hands for now, though.”

WPOHSEP will keep Webster residents and public entities updated as developments unfold. Residents are again encouraged to be patient and understanding of the process, which will take significant time to navigate.

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