Mark Segraves, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration for the District of Columbia as a result of the August earthquake, paving the way for federal funding to help with the repairs of city-owned buildings.
The declaration also opens the door for federal help to repair the National Cathedral, which sustained internal and external damage during the quake.
While the declaration makes federal funds available, it is too early to tell how much the District will receive. In his request, Mayor Vincent Gray pointed to $6.8 million in damages to public buildings as well as $15 million in damages at the cathedral.
The District must now submit projects for funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. If approved, D.C. would get up to 75 percent of the repair costs reimbursed by the feds.
A press release issued by FEMA says:
“Funding is available to the District of Columbia and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the earthquake in the District of Columbia.”
It is not unusual for the federal government to provide disaster relief to non-profits or religious organizations. After Hurricane Katrina, FEMA provided more than $27 million to the Archdiocese of New Orleans to help rebuild catholic schools.
The declaration also provides the opportunity for the District to apply for funds to protect buildings and other infrastructure from future disasters.
Millicent West, director of D.C.’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management, says the District hasn’t decided on what projects will be submitted to FEMA for funding, but repairs to the National Cathedral will be among them.
“The Cathedral is still in the process of determining its eligibility to apply to FEMA for funding,” says Richard Weinberg, communications director for the National Cathedral.
“Regardless of the Cathedral’s final decision, we are grateful to President Obama for the District’s disaster declaration in response to Mayor Gray’s request.”
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(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All rights reserved.)