Special meeting on Wed. Nov.9 2005 at Hackberry Community Center at 6:00 p.m. Our Police Jury will be there to hopefully answer questions on our sewer and utilities in Holly Beach La. visit my web-site http://www.cajunrivera.com

I only hope we could get a straight answerof why we can't return to take care of our property.we realy need to go on with our lives , and businesses in holly beach, louisiana.lets get busy people...friends missing friends

I still do not understand how anyone can tell you you can not go home to property you own. What do we live in a communist socity? If you own the land , then you have the right to go there. I still can not understand how they can keep you out. It is your right under the laws that founded this nation, and you right as a land owner to be able to live where you wish. Do people not go camping with out electricity, water, or a toliet? So what is the differance, if you wish to go live in a tent or camper on your property. The only way things are going to get cleaned up and back on track is if they let the comunity do so. All they seem to be doing is throwing salt in an open wound.I say the are violating your rights of freedom.

Holly Beach reconstruction will be complicated by the current requirements and the new requirements currently being considered. First the health department currently requires a 5000 sqft lot to receive a permit for septic. Jeff Davis will not provide power without the required permits. I know they are planning on developing a sewage treatment plant that would eliminate the lot square footage requirement, however part of money for the project was a loan that must be repaid and part was a grant. This project could be in jepardy due to the lack of tax base, number of residents who plan on rebuilding and matching funding issues. The Louisiana legislature is currently considering establishing a new 'hurricane' construction building code that would increase construction costs above the high construction costs due to the FEMA elevation requirements. Additional issues will be the lack of contractors, high building material costs (due to extreme damage in the gulf)...etc. This reconstruction will not be the same as after Audry due to the above. I liked one comment being if your house was on the ground the water got you and if you were in the air the wind got you so what difference did it really make to increase building costs with the FEMA elevation requirements? Another major issue will be the increased cost of flood and homeowners insurance due to the recent hurricanes.

The bottom line is those chosing to rebuild will have the endless 'red tape' hurdles to jump over.
again..again.. and again.

I would encourage all to contact their police jury representative (attend police jury meetings), congressmen,governor and senators to get clarity on all the above issues.

Cities Not Waiting for FEMA Elevations
In-depth Coverage of the Hurricane Katrina Rebuilding Effort Manbaskets In Stock - Call Today!
The Associated Press
via Knight Ridder

At least for now, it's OK to strap on the tool belt and plug in the circular saw, but anxious homeowners doing so risk being forever banished from the National Flood Insurance Program.

According to a top FEMA official, local governments' failure to adopt FEMA's new flood elevation maps could mean the end of federal funds and flood insurance in their jurisdictions.

Despite the threat, however, some Hancock officials say they have no plans to adopt FEMA's new standards.

FEMA is meeting with local governments this week to show off the new flood elevation advisory maps, which should be published on the Internet by Nov. 18.

Todd Davison, FEMA's mitigation director, told the Sun Herald the agency will urge local governments to immediately adopt the advisory elevations, rather than waiting 18 months for FEMA to complete the official maps.

"I think the (advisory) maps are 90 percent accurate," he told reporters this week.

Many homeowners here are already rebuilding or repairing their hurricane-damaged property, and Davison said they are not jeopardizing their eligibility for future flood insurance, as long as the home is par with the current elevation requirements.

However, after the official maps are completed, FEMA will again meet with local cities and counties, which must adopt the new maps or be dropped from the National Flood Insurance Program.

Bay St. Louis and Waveland city leaders are likely to consider the advisory maps next week, but the county board of supervisors could be a much harder sell.

"You can't adopt codes based on the worst storm in U.S. history," Board President Rocky Pullman said. "I don't care what FEMA says, that's what they're doing - reacting to the worst storm ever."

FEMA's official elevations are expected to be 3 to 8 feet higher than current flood elevations.

Several supervisors have historically voted against attempts to raise the elevations, and Pullman said he has no plans to start supporting a hike now.

"They're probably not going to get us to budge," he said. "Our people have gotten kicked hard enough, and these new requirements will force many of them to move away, because they can't afford to build here."

Davidson said once the official maps are completed and adopted by local governments, residents who rebuild at old elevations could pay much higher insurance rates than those who waited to build according to the new requirements.

FEMA suggests local leaders adopt the advisory maps next week to allow residents to begin rebuilding according to the new standards, a move that could save them from expensive insurance premiums.

Last month, despite a strong push from Mickey Lagasse, the county's flood plain manager, to delay a decision until FEMA's new maps were completed, supervisors unanimously voted to begin issuing permits to allow residents to rebuild using the current elevations.

Since then, more than 1,700 permits have been issued.

Unlike the county, officials in the Bay and Waveland adopted four-foot freeboards, before voting this week to issue building permits.

The freeboards mean new homes can be built only if they rise four feet higher than the current elevation mandate.

"All of us want to get our people back, but we need to do it in the safest possibly way," Bay Mayor Eddie Favre said. "With the freeboard, residents can rebuild close to what the new requirements are going to be, and still see a lower rate for insurance."

Waveland will issue permits to repair or rebuild any home not in a high-velocity zone.

"When people begin to get water, sewer and power, they start asking for building permits," Waveland Mayor Tommy Longo said. "We want them to be able to get one; we need that activity."

Homeowners in Waveland and the Bay already enjoy lower insurance premiums than policies offered in the county.

The two cities have strong ratings in FEMA's Community Rating System, which helps drive down the cost of flood insurance for their residents.

Davidson said if local governments adopt the agency's new advisory maps, their ratings will increase and residents will likely see another drop in the cost of flood insurance.

"Waveland and Bay St. Louis have great ratings, and Pass Christian has a heck of flood program," Davidson said. "As a result, their premiums are about 45 percent less than normal."

He said adopting the advisory maps this week is just a way to "advance what is the inevitable."

Biloxi Sun Herald

I was very upset with the answers that were given at the special meeting last wednesday but I knew that only the State Health Dept. would hold the real answers to our sewage problems, which is the first hurdle we must overcome to begin our rebuilding of Holly Beach.

Eric,
I'm in the US Navy and away from home(Holly Beach, La) right now. Can you tell me what was said at the meeting in Hackberry or you can email me at roxanemata@hotmail.com Thank you, to all that attended the meeting and hope you all continue to fight for our rights.

great news. cameron parish land oweners call jerry constance 13375692453 for papers to bring for Right of entry forms at the hackberry comm. center. mon. through sat. 9:00 to 5:00 lets get going heres our break we have been waiting to happen

attachment concerning entry forms cameron parish court is also a site for collecting information please check on time opened to save a trip and also check traffic through lake charles going to hackberry the ellendors bridge has closure times due to damage please don't let this stop you from signing forms just be wiser and prepared you need lots of papers so do your homework to save you a trip reminder speed limit is 45 in cameron parish enforced have a safe trip spread the word tell a friend from the parish we don't know how long we have to get the papers done contact number 1-337-569-2453

residents and property owners go to Cameron recovery.com to your left click on to Holly Beach questionaire Please fill out form they need about 500 to continue with grant for sewage thank you and happy new year

Happy New Year All my Friends from the past and the future this site has been very helpful for the ones so far away wishing everyone the best for 2006 and many happy years to come,hope to meet soon.

did every one get a chance to go ride to see the progress being done at holly beach eric has stood by the 2 operators and couple of heavy duty equipment hard at work to get going with the future he has a web site cameron recovery.org with a tax ID.# for the donation that come to continue the cleaning process as long as the donated machines stay at holly beach we are so lucky the properties really do show improvement there are ditches, firehydrants for water even telephone boxes this was so great to see if you know any large company or individual that would be able to donate please tell them about the mission at holly beach thanks

good morning and happy mardi gras we are still working to get back into holly beach were is everyone, are we sleeping or helping at our best to rebuild holly beach have a good day

Iused to go to cameron and holly beach twice a month while i was stationed at fort polk. can anyone give me any info on whether holly beach or cameron are open to public traffic? also is there any way to fish the jetties or anywhere near them? one last thing, is the beach still open for public traffic? i love the area and want to get back down there as soon as possible, any info would be greatly appreciated. please e-mail me at yam13f@yahoo.com . thanks for your help.

cameron parish is open to public traffic. just remember no gas, no food, no water. these items are very limited in lower cameron parish. you will need to bring your own. i have driven as far as cameron. i'm not sure if you can go to the jetties in cameron. some roads may be impassable. good luck
ebm