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Oregon Guard still waits for Katrina cash
Tuesday, August 29, 2006 | No comments posted.
SALEM (AP) - The federal government and Louisiana have yet to pay the $2.7 million owed to the Oregon National Guard for its work following Hurricane Katrina.
The Oregon Guard sent more than 1,100 members to the Gulf Coast, helping with relief and law enforcement. On Oct. 24, the Oregon Guard sent an invoice to the state of Louisiana seeking $2.7 million to cover salary and other expenses.
The money comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is disbursed through Louisiana officials.
Capt. Mike Braibish said $2.7 million is a small portion of the Guard's estimated $448 million 2005-07 budget. But it is state money used to operate 41 armories, where troops gather and units are headquartered. The state money is also used to maintain an airbase in Portland, home to the 142nd Fighter Wing, and an F-15 training base in Klamath Falls.
If the money is not reimbursed by the end of November, Guard officials expect to appear before the Legislature's Emergency Board, which doles out money when lawmakers are not in session, later this year. If the E-Board doesn't agree to pay, the Guard could be forced to close armories.
James Walke, FEMA's chief of public assistance, said it is up to Louisiana to repay Oregon. He could not say if FEMA has already paid Louisiana the money owed Oregon.
“That would be difficult for us to put our hands on right away,” he said.
An official with the Louisiana state emergency office could not be reached.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski said the Oregon Guard should not be stuck with the bill. “When disaster struck the Gulf Coast, Oregonians rose to the challenge - as requested - and helped deliver critical emergency assistance,” he said in a statement Monday.
“Our troops coordinated search and rescues, delivered food and water, and helped secure sites from looting. Now it's time for FEMA and the federal government to fulfill their obligation and repay the millions in expenses our Guard incurred.”
The state has been reimbursed about $1 million spent preparing for Katrina evacuees - most of whom never came to Oregon.
The Oregon Guard sent more than 1,100 members to the Gulf Coast, helping with relief and law enforcement. On Oct. 24, the Oregon Guard sent an invoice to the state of Louisiana seeking $2.7 million to cover salary and other expenses.
The money comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is disbursed through Louisiana officials.
Capt. Mike Braibish said $2.7 million is a small portion of the Guard's estimated $448 million 2005-07 budget. But it is state money used to operate 41 armories, where troops gather and units are headquartered. The state money is also used to maintain an airbase in Portland, home to the 142nd Fighter Wing, and an F-15 training base in Klamath Falls.
If the money is not reimbursed by the end of November, Guard officials expect to appear before the Legislature's Emergency Board, which doles out money when lawmakers are not in session, later this year. If the E-Board doesn't agree to pay, the Guard could be forced to close armories.
James Walke, FEMA's chief of public assistance, said it is up to Louisiana to repay Oregon. He could not say if FEMA has already paid Louisiana the money owed Oregon.
“That would be difficult for us to put our hands on right away,” he said.
An official with the Louisiana state emergency office could not be reached.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski said the Oregon Guard should not be stuck with the bill. “When disaster struck the Gulf Coast, Oregonians rose to the challenge - as requested - and helped deliver critical emergency assistance,” he said in a statement Monday.
“Our troops coordinated search and rescues, delivered food and water, and helped secure sites from looting. Now it's time for FEMA and the federal government to fulfill their obligation and repay the millions in expenses our Guard incurred.”
The state has been reimbursed about $1 million spent preparing for Katrina evacuees - most of whom never came to Oregon.
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