HGA Program Management Team Helps City of Ruston in Aftermath of Tornado

In the aftermath of the tornado that left wide-spread destruction in Ruston, the HGA Program Management Division reached out to the City of Ruston and Louisiana Tech University to see where they could offer recovery assistance. In order to receive federal grant funds to assist with disaster recovery the cost of the damages incurred must meet the required threshold so that a Federal declaration can be declared. In order to reach that threshold, there are steps that need to be taken and HGA was on hand to provide the technical advice needed to secure a declaration. All damage to public property must be documented via photographs; all vegetative and construction debris that is to be removed and disposed of must be calculated; proper permits must be in place at debris disposal sites; and the emergency protective measures are taken by city staff, police and fire departments, and any donated resources (labor and equipment) must be documented in detail. HGA is currently supporting the City of Ruston and Louisiana Tech University to ensure that all damages are documented and that accurate estimates to repair or replace damaged items are done correctly. An HGA team led by Project Manager Billy Poche and supported by Bryan McSween, Casey Levy, and Jessica Olwell were onsite immediately following the tornado and have been working hand-in-hand with the City and the University so that both entities will be poised to submit the numbers needed to obtain a federal declaration.