Leaders in Louisiana whose communities were devastated by historic flooding are speaking before members of Congress today. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss FEMA’s response to this disaster. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the speed at which aid is getting to people is far too slow:

CUT 3 (09)  “more resilient”

A representative from FEMA is present at the meeting to testify and give updates on the number of people they have been able to help.

The mayors of Central, Walker, and Denham Springs are also in Washington today. Denham mayor Gerard Landry says he will address the lack of information and misinformation many flood victims received from FEMA.

cut 12 (07) “our folks”

Landry says he will also voice concerns that many flood victims may have to elevate their home under FEMA guidelines.

President Obama announced the federal government will increase its cost share for flood relief efforts in Louisiana. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the feds will cover 90-percent of the cost for repairs to public roads and infrastructure. He says the 90-10 match will include first responder expenses, debris removal, and other costs associated with flood relief.

cut 14 (10)  “evacuate people”

Dardenne says the 90-10 match also extends to local governments.

A New Orleans bakery is launching hand pies today, similar to Hubig’s pies which haven’t been available since the Hubig’s Pie factory burned down four years ago. Haydel’s Bakery spokesperson Christine Adams you can get the pies at Haydel’s and at Fleurty Girl stores in New Orleans, but they hope to be able to share with more establishments in the future…:

Cut 9 (04)  “distribute them”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is being bashed by members of Congress right now over the response to the devastating flooding in South Louisiana. Congressman Garret Graves says the people affected got out and helped each other in a major way during the flooding, but right now everyone just seems to be in a holding pattern…:
CUT 1 (10) “response here”

The President says the federal government will cover 90-percent of Louisiana’s flood relief costs. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Tomorrow is the statistical peak of the hurricane season and State Climatologist Barry Keim says on September 10th, sea surface temperatures in the breeding grounds for tropical storms are at the maximum. He says typically the hurricane season is front loaded for Louisiana, but he says we have seen some late season storms like Hurricane Rita and Juan…:
Cut 6 (11) “we go”
He says so far this season we’ve had eight named storms, which puts us on track for 16 this season.

The National Hurricane Center says it’s monitoring three weather systems across the Atlantic basin. The first is about 1200 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, and forecasters say it’s forecast to be favorable for a tropical depression to form this weekend or early next week. The other two systems are not favorable for additional development.

Governor John Bel Edwards, Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry, Central Mayor Jr. Shelton and Walker Mayor Rick Ramsey are among those testifying today in Washington D.C. before members of Congress. Landry said in a prior phone interview that he’s concerned about the fact that homeowners could potentially spend 100-thousand dollars to lift a home that’s only been flooded once…:
cut 11 (08) “do so”
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss FEMA’s response to this disaster.

President Barack Obama has announced the federal government will increase its cost-share for flood relief efforts in Louisiana from 75-percent to 90-percent. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the match also extends to local governments…:
Cut 15 (08) “25-percent level”

The statistical peak of hurricane season is this Saturday. Emelie Gunn has more of what we can expect in the second half…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

If you like hand pies and you miss Hubig’s, there’s another bakery in New Orleans that has you covered. Haydel’s began distributing the tasty pastries today. Haydel’s spokesperson Christine Adams says these pies will be baked, and not fried like Hubig’s…:
Cut 8 (09) “they’re delicious”
She says they are offering four flavors to start; apple, lemon, chocolate and cherry.

The Walker, Central, and Denham Springs mayors are in the nation’s capital to discuss FEMA’s performance during last month’s historic flooding. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

President Barack Obama has announced the federal government will increase its cost-share for flood relief efforts in Louisiana from 75-percent to 90-percent. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the state has to pay for a lot of the repairs up front, so decreasing the state and local share will help tremendously…:
Cut 13 (09) “its repairs”

September 10th is the technical peak of hurricane season. State Climatologist Barry Kiem says up to this point, Louisiana has been pretty lucky in terms of named storms, however a tropical wave brought south Louisiana record flooding last month. He says we’ll likely end the season a little above the average of 12 named storms…:
Cut 5 (08) “general context”
He says it’s all downhill from this point but people still need to realize that we still have a half of a season out in front of us.

A middle school football team in Livingston Parish which lost everything in the unprecedented flooding has received a $20,000 donation to rebuild their program. Southside Junior High in Denham Springs nearly had to cancel the season, but after a post on Facebook expressing the team’s needs went viral, donations started pouring in. NFL players Charles Tillman and Benjamin Watson gave $5,000 each.

LSU Football Coach Les Miles says as far as he knows, running back Leonard Fournette will play in tomorrows’s home opener against Jacksonville State, but declined to say whether Fournette has practiced this week.

The mayors of Walker, Central and Denham Springs will testify before Congress today in Washington DC on the federal response to the historic flooding. Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry says he will voice concerns that many residents who suffered flood damage may have to either tear down their home or raise their house under FEMA guidelines…:
Cut 10 (08) “necessary”
Landry says if a home has been flooded multiple times, it does make sense for FEMA to require the home to be elevated, but not in this situation.

Tomorrow is the statistical peak of the hurricane season and State Climatologist Barry Keim says on September 10th, sea surface temperatures in the breeding grounds for tropical storms are at the maximum. He says so far this season we’ve had eight named storms, which puts us on track for 16 this season…:
cut 4 (08) “of us”

Hubig’s fans will be happy to learn that another New Orleans bakery is launching its own hand pies beginning today. The Hubig’s Pie factory burned down four years ago, and the popular pastries have not been around since. Haydel’s Bakery is now selling its debut New Orleans hand pie, similar in size and shape to Hubig’s. Haydel’s spokesperson Christine Adams…:
CUT 7 (08) “individually”
She says today you can get the pies today at the bakery and also Fleurty Girl stores in New Orleans.

President Barack Obama says the federal government will cover a larger share of the costs to repair the damage done to public buildings and infrastructure that are the result of the historic flooding in south Louisiana. The larger cost share, means the feds will pick up 90-percent of the costs and that includes emergency response expenses.

President Barack Obama sent a letter to Governor John Bel Edwards announcing the federal government will increase its cost-share for flood relief efforts in Louisiana from 75-percent to 90-percent, to cover repairs to public roads and infrastructure and first responder expenses. This means state and local governments will be responsible for the reaming 10-percent.

The Board of Regents placed four Louisiana universities on a fiscal watch list for being in poor financial standing. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says they established this test to show legislators that these universities are struggling. He says there has been a lot of concern about the future of the LSU Health Center in Shreveport with many people worried it’s on “life support.”

CUT 8 (10) “they have”

Rallo says these schools are facing financial challenges because of a decline in state funding and lower enrollment.

A 15-year-old girl was killed and her 12-year-old sister was seriously injured while helping their mother take out the garbage in Belle Rose. State Trooper Jesse LaGrange says the two girls were in the tailgate of their mother’s truck bringing the garbage bins to the street and they were stopped on the highway as a truck approached…

cut 12 (09) “riding on”

Impairment has been ruled out.

After two devastating floods, Louisiana strawberry famers are struggling. Co-owner of Johndales Farm in Ponchatoula, Heather Robertson, says because strawberries are a specialty crop, there’s not much financial assistance, and a lot of producers will not grow strawberries again.

CUT 3 (10)  “strawberry farmers”

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says Tangipahoa parish is the center of strawberry production, and it was hit by both floods.

President Barack Obama has announced the federal government will increase its cost-share for flood relief efforts in Louisiana from 75-percent to 90-percent, leaving state and local governments to pay the remaining 10-percent. The 90-10 match will cover repairs to public roads and infrastructure, as well as first responder and shelter expenses.

The New Orleans Police Department issued a statement saying 28-year-old Raul Delatoba was wrongfully charged with a hate crime for violating the Blue Lives Matter law after he used sexist and racial slurs against officers. Executive Director of the Louisiana ACLU, Marjorie Esman, is glad police realized they can’t chare someone for offensive comments, but he never should have been charged with a hate crime in the first place.

Cut 14 (10) “it to”

The Department of Transportation announces updates to their 511 travel information system. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says this will allow drivers to make the most informed choices they can make, which is especially important for displaced flood victims who are living in new areas.

Cut 11 (10) “major thoroughfares”

Mallett says motorists can now get personalized traffic updates by creating an account at 511LA.org.

Strawberry farmers in Louisiana are struggling after being hit by two devastating floods this year. Co-owner of Johndales Farm in Ponchatoula, Heather Robertson, says the flooding in August is making it very difficult to get a crop ready for next year.

Cut 5 (12) “every day”