New Orleans Recovery Chief Dr. Ed Blakely announced an ambitious plan to reopen hurricane damages police stations and firehouses. More than two years after Katrina, four police facilities, including the NOPD headquarters in Mid-City sit in limbo, waiting on major repairs. Nine firehouses across the city are also still closed.
Monday, Dr. Blakely gave his monthly recovery update. He says the city will soon have the money, $200-million in state backed recovery bonds, to finally get moving on the police and fire buildings.
"That's our highest priority," said Blakely. "We will be getting those programs, very, very soon in order to make sure our citizens are protected, particularly as the winter months come on."
According to Blakely, NOPD headquarters is now expected to reopen in January. The district headquarters are expected to be back by spring. The firehouses should reopen by June.
Do you think it's taking too long to get first responders out of their trailers and back in their permanent facilities?
Comments (1)
Let's hope Dr. Blakely's optimism will turn into results very soon. It is completely unacceptable for first responders to still be in trailers more than two years after the hurricane. New Orleans has always had a retention problem because of the low salary paid in these jobs. Adding into the mix a work environment like this only furthers the problem of retaining and recruiting first responders. The state needs to step up and get these facilities up and running.
Posted by st | November 1, 2007 3:26 PM
Posted on November 1, 2007 15:26