Cassidy, Boustany call for quick distribution of flood recovery funds

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) joined Louisiana’s congressional delegation on Wednesday in calling for quick distribution of $500 million in recently appropriated flood recovery funds.

Cassidy and Boustany signed a letter to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julian Castro that calls for the funds to be distributed quickly through the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)

“We know money has a greater impact if it comes sooner rather than later,” Cassidy said. “The administration must act quickly in distributing the available flood recovery funds so struggling families can know that help is on the way.”

Congress approved the $500 million in funding last week as part of the continuing resolution. The funding will aid recovery efforts following the historic flooding in southern Louisiana in August and the Red River flooding earlier in the year.

“As (Castro) is aware, the Red Cross has stated that the flooding in south Louisiana this past August was the worst natural disaster since Superstorm Sandy, and FEMA has also said it will end up being the fourth most expensive natural disaster in the last 12 years,” the letter states. “Combined with the devastating floods this spring, Louisiana is in urgent need of immediate assistance.”

Many of the families devastated by the flooding do not have flood insurance policies “through no fault of their own,” and they shouldn’t have to wait for any “bureaucratic entanglement” to receive flood recovery assistance, the letter continues.