BATON ROUGE, La. –Livingston Parish school campuses have reopened for students and teachers with the help of a $17.5 million FEMA grant.

The grant paid for work to eliminate health and safety hazards so thousands of Livingston Parish students could return to school. Damage from August’s floods forced parish schools to close for a month. Work included removing wet floors, walls and contents and other mold elimination measures like drying and cleaning.                                                                                                      

Students returned to the following 11 refurbished Livingston Parish school campuses: Doyle Elementary, Holden School, Springfield Elementary, Denham Springs Junior High, Freshwater Elementary, Northside Elementary, Lewis Vincent Elementary, Seventh Ward Elementary, Walker Freshman High, Westside Junior High and Live Oak High.

The funding also assisted the following five campuses where more recovery work remains before they reopen: Denham Springs Elementary, Denham Springs Freshman High, Denham Springs High, Southside Elementary and Southside Junior High.

The $17.5 million came from FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program. The program helps to repair or replace critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, public buildings and schools. PA also helps certain private nonprofit organizations.

FEMA typically reimburses 75 percent of eligible PA expenses. However, FEMA will reimburse applicants 90 percent of eligible PA expenses given the magnitude of the August floods.

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Livingston Parish Schools Clean Up and Reopen with Federal Help

BATON ROUGE, La. – When homes are flooded and lives are upended, treasured keepsakes such as photos, artwork, quilts and family heirlooms become more cherished. Although they may have been damaged in the flood, these treasures may be salvageable.

For example, photographs can be rinsed gently in clean water and air-dried on a plastic screen or paper towel. They can also be hung with plastic clothespins. It is important the image not come in contact with other surfaces as it dries. Many items can be air-dried – preferably indoors. However, high direct heat from hair dryers and irons or prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause irreversible damage. A better choice is to increase airflow with fans, open windows, air conditioners and dehumidifiers.

Flood survivors can learn how to salvage their treasures directly from Smithsonian Institution preservation experts on Friday, Sept. 23, and Saturday, Sept. 24, at two Disaster Recovery Centers. The experts will demonstrate how to handle, dry and clean damaged objects and share tips on personal safety, setting priorities and other preservation options.

The sessions will be:

Friday, September 23

Lafayette Parish
Lafayette Disaster Recovery Center
301 West University Avenue
Lafayette

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, September 24

East Baton Rouge Parish
Celtic Disaster Recovery Center
10000 Celtic Drive
Baton Rouge

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Close up of water damaged photograph.

Clyde R. Meyers, Denham Springs flood survivor, holds a photograph of his parents, saturated with floodwater from the 2016 historic flooding in Louisiana. (Photo by J.T. Blatty/FEMA)

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Smithsonian Experts to Share Tips on Salvaging Family Treasures