No flood insurance on Vermilion Parish LSU Ag Building

The Vermilion Parish Police Jury learned that it may be longer than expected before flood damaged repairs can begin on the LSU Ag Center Office in Abbeville and constructing a new $1 million building has been put on hold indefinitely.
In last month’s historical flood, the building had 18 inches of water, which remained in the building for a few days.
Today, the building is gutted and everything has been removed from the building as it airs out.
The Police Jury voted to put on hold the construction of a new building next to the old one until the old building is repaired.
The LSU county agents are operating out of offices in the back of the old Henry High gymnasium.
Architect Gene Sellers Jr. gave a report on the status of the building and the cost of repairing it.
Many of the jurors learned from Sellers that the LSU Ag Center did not have flood insurance, so the police jury is stuck paying for the repair bill.
“The building is located in a flood zone?,” said police juror Errol Domingues.
“Yes it is,” said Sellers.
“I did not know it was in a flood zone,” said juror Mark Poché.
“We don’t have flood insurance on it? said Domingues.
Because the Police Jury does not have flood insurance on the building, the Police Jury is stuck paying for the repair of the building.
Sellers said it could cost them anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 to repair 18 inches of water damage in the 5,500 square foot building.
Before Sellers begins drawing plans to repair the building, he first needed to check with the Police Jury to see what its wishes are dealing with the LSU Ag Center building.
Before any repairs get underway, Sellers said FEMA needs to examine the damage to the building to make sure it is not more than 50 percent damaged.
If it is more than 50 percent damaged, then the Police Jury has to elevate the building or make it flood proof by possibly putting a six-foot high wall around the building.
“There is no way a building that is 5,000 square feet and only had 18 inches of water had 50 percent worth of damage,” said Domingues. “There is no way.”
Poché said, “We don’t want to have to medicate that building with a wall. We don’t want to see a $1.5 million wall around the building.”
Sellers before the jury decides on the direction they want to take with the building, they first have to get a FEMA to examine the building to see if it has more than 50 percent damage.