Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 30, Calcasieu Parish inspectors will begin performing damage assessments to structures within FEMA-designated special flood hazard areas where the most damages occurred from Hurricane Laura.
These assessments will require inspectors to enter structures and take photos of the damages in order to produce proper assessments.
If a building is found to be substantially damaged, regulations require that repairs are not permitted to begin until compliance with the local floodplain ordinance is demonstrated. In some cases, that may require repairs that include elevating or flood-proofing the structure to reduce the potential for future damage.
Permits for repairs are required as part of Calcasieu Parish’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides eligibility for flood insurance, disaster assistance, state and federal grants and loans, and buyout funds for flood-prone properties. Special conditions apply to substantially damaged buildings.
As property owners in Calcasieu Parish contemplate clean up and repairs following the recent disaster damage, the Calcasieu Parish Policy Jury is reminding residents to obtain local permits before repairing or rebuilding damaged structures.
At this time, no fees are being charged for permits related to storm repairs.
Contact the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Permit Office at 337- 721-3610 or at planning@calcasieuparish.gov for more information on repair and reconstruction permits for properties in the unincorporated area. To apply for permits, visit CPPJ’s Citizen Self Service portal at www.calcasieuparish.gov/permits [calcasieuparish.gov].
