Time could be running out for FEMA funding in Cameron Parish. This as parish officials are waiting to hear from President Bush on whether an extension will be granted or not. Cameron Parish's period to receive 100% funding from FEMA will expire Thursday at midnight. Parish officials say loosing that funding would cause them to loose resources in their comeback efforts.

Cameron Parish Administrator Tina Horn says, "We are trying to get that extension and it means a lot because we're scurrying around to do what we can to get 100% reimbursement and if it's not extended, there's a lot of things that won't get done here because the parish just can't afford it." That's because if the funding is not extended, the parish would have to be responsible for 25% of costs and FEMA would then only be responsible for 75%. That money is currently being used for things like extra law enforcement and some contractors in the area. "We can't afford to landfill the debris, we can't afford to pay for the military services we're getting here, the corps services, we can't afford any of that," said Horn.

Cameron Parish Police Jury President Scott Trahan says, "It's very important that we have this extra help because we have hundreds of workers down here that are a big expense. There's no way the parish could absorb the cost of it." Horn says parishes ravaged by Hurricane Katrina were given 60 days assistance right off the bat. When Rita hit, Cameron Parish was tacked onto the Katrina disaster declaration, meaning the parish was given only 34 days of FEMA funding.

Meanwhile, Horn says the Army Corps of Engineers are currently being assigned tasks from FEMA: "One of the things they are doing now is looking at our navigation channels and our drainage laterals and making sure the debris is moved from those areas so when the boats come into the docks, they're not going to hit any debris," said Horn.

Electric crews are still working throughout the parish and Horn expects power to be restored to the courthouse any day now. It could still take a while for the outlying areas to get electricity. Southern Cameron Parish residents will now be able to "look and leave" at their homes and businesses daily from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Residents who would like to get a trailer to live in while their homes are rebuilt or repaired, can fill out a FEMA application at the Grand Lake Recreation Center or at the Hackberry Community Center. Those who have questions can contact the Cameron Emergency Operations Center at 775-5815 or 775-5306

Charles Boustany will be in Cameron at the Court house Thursday 10:00a.m. Dec. 1 2005 we might get a few answers.