BILOXI, Miss. — Educators are hopeful that $1.5 million in additional FEMA funds will be available to restore the administration building destroyed by Katrina on the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park Campus.
USM is one of five public entities in Mississippi that have chosen arbitration, established by federal rules in August, to resolve disputes over FEMA funding for Katrina recovery.
Also taking cases to arbitration are the Port of Gulfport, the Bay-Waveland and Moss Point School Districts and Forrest County.
The Sun Herald reports Thursday that arbitration appears to have worked well for USM. FEMA initially provided $950,000 for repairs to the administration building, concluding it was less than 50 percent damaged. USM gathered and submitted additional information to show the building was more than 50 percent damaged and would cost $2.5 million to restore.
