FEMA to Discuss Building Elevations in New Orleans
The July 29 meeting in the city's Broadmoor neighborhood will present "The History of Building Elevation in New Orleans," which came about through the agency's work to ensure elevations comply with historic preservation laws.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that its historic preservation specialists will discuss a new publication, "The History of Building Elevation in New Orleans," on July 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center, 4300 South Broad St. in New Orleans’ Broadmoor neighborhood.
"Home and building elevations are a part of New Orleans’ history, dating back to the founding of the city. However, until now, very little has been written about it," said FEMA Louisiana Recovery Office Executive Director Mike Womack. "Following Hurricane Katrina, FEMA has worked with the state and city to comply with federal historic preservation laws while protecting their residents by elevating above floodwaters. As part of the process, 'The History of Building Elevation in New Orleans' was created."
The announcement said FEMA produced the book to offset effects to historic properties caused by FEMA-funded grants as required by the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106. It was written and produced by URS Group in collaboration with FEMA historic preservation staff and the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office, with assistance from local collections and archives, including the New Orleans Public Library and Archives, the Historic New Orleans Collection, and the Louisiana State Museum and Archives. Longtime New Orleans elevation businesses provided information that was not available elsewhere, it said.
An electronic version of the book is available at www.fema.gov/latro under Program Updates.