LA SAFE

05/15/2019

Today, the State of Louisiana released a set of seven climate adaptation strategies created for six coastal parishes. Created through a partnership between the Office of Community Development (OCD) and the Foundation for Louisiana (FFL), each strategy presents an overview of the LA SAFE program and describes the parish-specific process used to develop community-driven plans.

Each strategy also illustrates how various sectors—such as housing, transportation, stormwater management, economics and education—are part of an interconnected system to be considered as the state adapts to coastal and climate change as well as increasing flood risk across 10, 25, and 50-year timeframes.

Read the press release, including links to all seven strategies, here:

News Release: Louisiana releases climate adaptation strategies created through LA SAFE program's regional approach to resilience

04/27/2018

Very excited to have members of our LA SAFE team present at Resilient Cities’ 9th Annual Global Forum on Urban Resilience and Adaptation in Bonn, Germany, on Friday! The team presented at the session, “Louisiana adaptation: Mitigation to managed retreat.” From left to right: Rachelle Thomason (Foundation for Louisiana/co-team lead), Maria Papacharalambous (Waggonner & Ball Architects), Jeanette Dubinin (CPEX), and Dakota Fisher (Louisiana’s Office of Community Development/co-team lead). Learn more our work at lasafe.la.gov.

04/26/2018

"The proposal would add bio-retention cells to hold and filter run-off, pedestrian and cyclist paths, permeable parking, a green median, shade trees, native plantings, historic light poles and banners to a 1.3-mile stretch on Airline Highway and a 0.3-mile area on Main Street."

LAPLACE — Throughout the past year, St. John the Baptist Parish residents met to discuss and vote on proposed projects to protect the community from future land loss and coastal flood risk. Developed through Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments in coordination with the Offic...

04/23/2018

“Moving forward, said Gov. John Bel Edwards, “we’re gonna continue to lead in developing resilience plans and projects across Louisiana’s wetlands — applying the lessons learned from LA SAFE and replicating them statewide.”

The state announced plans Friday to fund 10 projects that will address problems created by flooding and land loss in six coastal parishes. Louisiana’s main

04/23/2018

“We believe LA SAFE represents a crucial step forward in cementing Louisiana’s place on the cutting edge in resilience-building activities,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said.

Governor John Bel Edwards was in Gretna this morning to talk about a slate of projects designed to boost the area’s flood resilience.

04/23/2018

Keith Magill, Executive Editor of the Daily Comet, writes: "If you haven’t figured it out already, this is no longer a 'down-the-bayou' problem -- if it ever was one. If these coastal threats haven’t already affected you, they will soon. The lessons we learn from these four test projects could make the emotional but inevitable process of adapting, however distasteful, easier on everyone."

State officials and planners made some good choices in selecting four projects aimed at helping Terrebonne and Lafourche residents adapt as the Gulf of

04/21/2018

"The Coastal Restoration Master Plan targets the health of Louisiana’s coast as a whole, focusing on environmental engineering to slow the rate of subsidence. LA SAFE seeks to help communities develop strategies to cope with the environmental changes caused by subsidence and climate change-induced sea level rise."

Projects range from a boat harbor to mental health services to relocation of an initial seven families

04/20/2018

"We believe LA SAFE represents a crucial step forward in cementing Louisiana’s place on the cutting edge in resilience-building activities,” Gov. Edwards said. “Although our Coastal Master Plan is the country’s preeminent effort to reduce future land loss and coastal flood risk, LA SAFE has taken the next step in illuminating a path forward for how our communities develop future housing, economic, social and transportation needs to withstand future disasters and adapt to environmental changes over time. In an age of heightened risk, now is the time to start addressing the needs of our communities.”

The project is led by the state’s Office of Community Development (OCD), in partnership with Foundation for Louisiana (FFL) Gretna, LA – Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced 10 flood resilience projects in six parishes developed through Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environmen...

04/20/2018

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the 10 LA SAFE flood resilience projects for Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes before officials, community-based organization representatives and other residents assembled at Gretna City Park. For more info, visit lasafe.la.gov.

04/20/2018

We will be live-streaming the governor’s announcement of the LA SAFE flood resilience projects at 10 AM. Stay tuned!

04/20/2018

04/19/2018

We are working with LA SAFE participants to acknowledge that adaptation, protection, and restoration must go hand in hand to address community growth and contraction according to flood risk.