Hurricane Katrina has become a distant memory for many around the country. Yet, for those who experienced the New Orleans devastation firsthand on August 29, 2005, the memory is as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office celebrated one very significant recovery event on October 7, 2011—the “Topping Out” of a new kitchen/warehouse/laundry/central plant project.

The kitchen/warehouse/laundry/central plant project—the first building of a new jail complex for Orleans Parish—was the first major phase of work recommended by the Justice Facilities Master Plan (JFMP), which was made possible by a special initiative of FEMA. The JFMP site in New Orleans is bounded by I-10, Broad Street and Tulane Avenue—an area that Katrina’s surge flooded with several feet of water and consequently put out of commission courts, law enforcement, and jail facilities.

Sheriff Marlin Gusman’s facilities were among the largest of these operations hit, including almost all of the parish’s jail structures. While temporary and short-term initiatives put the jails back in operation, a long-term solution to rebuild the infrastructure was needed to sustain operations in the event of future storms. The new 163,885-square-foot kitchen/warehouse/laundry/central plant structure, now under construction, will meet the long-term needs of sustaining an infrastructure recovery. The facility’s main floor is elevated several feet off the ground to keep the food service, storage, laundry, and energy systems that will support the next phases of inmate housing, intake, and administration out of future flood waters.

Also “Topping Out” that day, and arguably more importantly than that of concrete and steel, was the pride felt by so many who shared their stories of “The Storm.” Many who witnessed the October 7, ceremony had also, on August 29, 2005, witnessed the loss of loved ones, were displaced from family, waded through the stench and dangerous waters of destruction, and could only hope that future days of celebration were ahead. That pride was expressed in the speeches made and on the faces of those who saw the traditional Christmas tree on top of the kitchen/warehouse/laundry/central plant.

The JFMP was submitted in September 2007. The effort recognized the tremendous workloads of the Judicial System entities following Katrina, and their lack of technical resources to focus effectively on long-term recovery needs. While the provisions of an Ombudsman to lead the JFMP effort and the required technical assistance were sponsored by FEMA; the requirements of the City of New Orleans, Orleans Parish, the Courts, N.O.P.D., and the Office of the Sheriff were commitments of time and a collaborative spirit to rebuild. Indeed, all involved are to be proud and commended for making this first phase of their plan a reality.

Ron Budzinski served as FEMA’s Ombudsman for the development of the Orleans Parish Justice Facilities Master Plan.