Tangipahoa Parish--Disaster Impact and Needs Assessment

Economic and Workforce Development

The Parish had a net increase of 1,504 unemployment claims in the aftermath of the disasters. The number of unemployment claims increased by 6,344 to a rate of 17.9 percent. This is a 192.8 percent increase in unemployment claims and an 11.6 percent increase in unemployment as a result of the storms.

• The dairy industry, which is heavily concentrated in Tangipahoa Parish, had an economic loss of $1.2 million due to Hurricane Katrina. Many of the dairy farmers without power had to dump their product. Furthermore, future milk yields are expected to be lower due to increased stress and health issues and less than optimal milking conditions.
• The large number of evacuees who have relocated to Tangipahoa Parish has had a significant impact on the local labor market. The unemployment rate in the parish has increased from 6.3 percent in December 2004 to 7.2 percent in December 2005. This is a significant drop from the 17.7 percent unemployment rate within the parish in November 2005. Despite the recent high unemployment rates, there are severe labor shortages for a variety of occupations;
• The preliminary statewide estimate of Hurricane Katrina impact to the timber industry was $610.8 million. The LSU Ag Center estimates that more than 75 percent of the timber in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes was damaged. It is further estimated that only 30 to 40 percent may be salvaged;
• The preliminary statewide impact to the wholesale nursery industry was $19 million with an estimated $200,000 impact to local parish nurseries;
• Lost business revenue and sales tax revenue due to outages of power and water;
• Loss of perishable items in groceries, restaurants, schools and residences due to power outage
• Agricultural Products (Strawberries)

Based on compiled data it is evident that the Parish shows a shortage in service workers and skilled construction labor due to population growth and reconstruction and that there is need for a technical training school in the north end of the Parish. A mega-site industrial park sits vacant and is need of concerted efforts to promote and market the site. Small business development and enhancement programs are essential to keeping the parish on track with economic growth. The tourism industry has lost regular business in the convention, sports, and leisure market and is need of programs to “re-promote” the area. The dairy and forestry industries are an economic staple of the Parish and have suffered as a result of the hurricane.

Environmental Management and Coastal Restoration

• Significant wind damage/destruction to trees throughout the parish.
• Addition of mostly fallen tree debris to streams/waterways due to wind;
• Increased salinity levels in swamps adjacent to Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas due to storm surge.
• Increased pollution from untreated sewage discharged into streams and waterways due to hurricane damage to infrastructure.
• Loss of trees will result in increased non point source pollution due to erosion.

Tangipahoa Parish is in need of assistance to identify and remove downed trees from drainage areas and to repair sewer treatment facilities to reduce future damage to the coastal marshes.

Human Services

• Tangipahoa Schools closed on Aug. 28, 2005, and reopened on Sept. 15, 2005. As of December 2005, there are 1,094 additional students enrolled in Tangipahoa Public Schools.
• Due to power outages, perishable food supplies at all schools were discarded.
• Girl Scout Camp Whispering Pines camp received extensive damage to platform tents, tarps, mattresses, trails, buildings, latrines and fire circles.
• Tangipahoa Parish received damage to critical infrastructure totaling $8,483,849, with $2,250,168 of that amount directly impacting LSU Medical Center, North Oaks Medical Clinic, Tangipahoa Parish Schools, 13 Fire Districts, Sheriff & Police Stations, Emergency Medical Services, Southeastern University, Recreational Facilities, Health Facilities, Mosquito Abatement Agency, and Non-Profit Organizations, as reported to FEMA for reimbursements.
• Churches and Human Service Organizations responded to disaster recovery and the 358 human service agencies listed in the East Florida Parishes Directory of Community Resources have had an impact to their budget, services, amount of residents served, or amount of available resources to assist in the recovery process.
• Tangipahoa Parish Office of Family Support provided disaster food stamp benefits within four days of the disaster. All staff members available were required to work to enable the office to remain open twenty-four hours daily for the initial two weeks, and then 12 hours daily until the public was served. Applications continued to be accepted through November, 2005. In Tangipahoa Parish, approximately 24,000 households were served. Applications were processed on families from Alabama, Mississippi and Texas and from the 27 parishes affected in Louisiana.
• Partnerships were developed between Tangipahoa local partners of Faith-Based Organizations, local churches of all denominations, Red Cross, United Way, Tangipahoa Human Services Coalition, Tangipahoa Social Service Council, FINS (Families in Need of Services), Twenty-first Judicial Truancy Prevention, Workforce Investment, Business Services Coordination Team, Head Start, local Food and Emergency Management Association, local food banks, and well as 358 local human service agencies.

Based on compiled data it is evident that the government entities lack a centralized, interoperable communication network and generator backup for the continued uninterrupted operation of public safety services. The population growth and economic development initiatives will require an increase in public safety staffing throughout the entire parish.

Transportation and Infrastructure

There was extensive obstruction of all roadways (federal, state, parish and municipal) rail crossings, bridges and drainage system due to fallen trees. Some roadways and drainage damaged due to debris clearing operation. Increased traffic due to influx of relocated evacuees. Ponchatoula sewer treatment facility was damaged due to high winds. Winds destroyed the series of baffles in the oxidation pond causing approximately $1M in damage. Village of Tangipahoa experienced damage to the sewer treatment facility due to high winds.

Fallen trees due to wind in streams/waterways causing potential flooding.

• Estimated 500,000 cubic yards of debris to be removed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Scheduled completion mid February.
• Public Assistance Obligated: $8.3 million

Based on compiled data it is evident that the municipalities were impacted the greatest in wastewater treatment, due to wind, debris damage and power losses to their plants. Due to increased traffic congestion from the influx of population, and in order to keep up with economic growth, highway road improvements and capacity increases are necessary on major high traffic arteries. There is also a clear need to develop a public transportation system for the parish. Water and sewer systems are in need of upgrades and rehabilitation in order to keep up the demand of new population and economic growth.

Housing and Community Development

Hurricane Katrina caused considerable damage to housing throughout Tangipahoa Parish. Approximately 11,598 families reported damages to their homes in Tangipahoa Parish due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The parish had a net increase of 2,248 (5.8 percent) of total households in the aftermath of the disasters:

• 13,846 (29.7 percent) of the Pre-Katrina/Rita households became FEMA eligible;
• 89 homes were destroyed;
• FEMA estimates 29.4 percent of eligible households are from other parishes;
• It is estimated that 1,816 households left the parish;

Based on compiled data it is evident that temporary and affordable housing are major needs for the evacuees that have migrated to the parish due to displacement of residence and employment.

Tangipahoa Parish and its eight municipal governments were not prepared to receive the influx of new evacuees and displaced citizens. Additional assistance is needed in permitting and planning and at all levels of government to accommodate the demand for temporary and permanent housing. Increased state and federal funding initiatives, developer incentives and educational programs are needed to accommodate increased demand for affordable/low income housing.