by Gwen Filosa
Wednesday January 16, 2008, 1:56 PM
By Gwen Filosa
Staff writer

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will offer reimbursement to property owners who have already started, or completed, raising their buildings in an effort to prevent flooding from another Hurricane Katrina-type of disaster, the agency said today.

In October, FEMA promised to waive a rule that prohibits it from paying for projects after they've begun, in response to outcry from Road Home applicants who learned they couldn't collect due only to the fact that they hadn't first waited for government money.

Within 30 days, the Louisiana Recovery Authority said it will announce the application procedures.

"The ball is squarely in our court now," said Jim Rainwater, the LRA's executive director. "this is a huge step. FEMA has taken the initiative to do this and we appreciate it very much. We'll make sure the money gets on the street as quickly as possible."

Property owners who have already raised their buildings, however, must meet a host of eligibility criteria, including compliance with federal regulations that protect the environment, historical preservation, and wetlands. The elevations must also be deemed "cost effective" by FEMA standards.

Federal and state officials Wednesday, though, called the reversal of FEMA's once strict rule that bars retroactive payments for projects a good-faith effort on behalf of the agency.

"We recognized that the nature of this disaster caused such a large number of homes and properties to be damaged," said Jim Stark, the acting associate deputy administrator of FEMA"s Gulf Coast Recovery Office, during an afternoon news conference. "We felt it would be prudent to go ahead and look at the eligibility of folks that had started these projects already. They didn't wait for all the T's to be crossed and I's to be dotted. They went ahead and took the steps to build back better and stronger."

FEMA has only identified 14 properties in four parishes that have begun elevation work. No decision has yet been made over who will administer the retroactive payment program. However, the Louisiana Office of Community Development, through the governor's office, will run the program.