NEWS RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA

October 21, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOUISIANA CEMETERY RESPONSE TASK FORCE, HOSTS INFORMATIONAL AND REGISTRATION MEETING ABOUT CEMETERY ASSISTANCE IN LAFITTE FEMA

Assistance May be Available for Reburials in Lower Jefferson Parish

JEFFERSON, LA – Financial assistance for reburials may be available to Jefferson Parish residents after Hurricane Ida caused damage to cemeteries in the Lafitte area. The Cemetery Response Task Force will host an informational meeting on Saturday, October 23, 2021 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Lafitte Civic Center (4953 City Park Drive, Lafitte) to provide additional information and answer questions from residents. FEMA representatives will also be on site to assist with registrations for cemetery damage.

The purpose of the Cemetery Response Task Force is to assess response and recovery needs related to cemeteries during any emergency declaration by the state or any parish thereof. Following assessment, the Task Force is charged with leading and directing state and local resources for any necessary response and coordinating family interactions with FEMA and contractors for restoration work.

Based on some preliminary damage assessments from the Cemetery Response Task Force, at least four cemeteries in the Lafitte area had been impacted by Hurricane Ida: Lafitte, Coulton, Adams and Fisher. Jefferson Parish residents may be eligible for reburial assistance from FEMA if damage to the grave site or above-ground vault occurred as a result of Hurricane Ida and the grave or vault was in a privately owned, licensed cemetery or burial facility and the reburial costs are the legal responsibility of an individual and not the cemetery.

For more information about reburial assistance from FEMA, visit FEMA Assistance May be Available for Reburials in Louisiana | FEMA.gov. To contact the Cemetery Response Task Force, email cemeterytaskforce@ag.louisiana.gov or call 225-326-6056.

For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net. Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@JeffParishGov) or by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777.

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Jefferson Parish Public Information Office 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 1002 Jefferson, LA 70123

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Gretchen Hirt Gendron, PIO