Louisiana Parish Says Training Facility Will Lower Insurance Premiums

St. Landry Parish, La., is in line to receive $12.7 million in federal hurricane mitigation funds, and the single largest project it hopes to fund will be a multi-agency training center.

Opelousas Fire Chief Lee Cahanin said $1.5 million set aside by the parish will get it off the ground.

Parish President Don Menard said residents will benefit, as every point that a community’s fire rating is lowered means about an 8 percent decrease in property insurance premiums.

Cahanin said the facility will allow training in actual fire situations.

The facility will be built on a 14-acre lot beside the National Guard Armory at the parish airport.

He said law enforcement can use it for traffic-accident reconstruction.

Information from: The Daily World, www.dailyworld.com