LOUISIANA’S STRATEGIC ADAPATIONS
FOR FUTURE ENVIRONMENTS (LA SAFE)
FOR FUTURE ENVIRONMENTS (LA SAFE)
Working together for community resilience, economic prosperity and a better quality of life for all in Louisiana.
Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments (LA SAFE) provides a holistic approach to flood risk of all types as well as the myriad of human, economic, and environmental impacts experienced following past floods and those anticipated in the future. To develop aspirational—yet realistic—visions of tomorrow’s communities, LA SAFE led a grassroots effort across six-parishes to gather information and ideas while harnessing the experience and ingenuity of local citizens. It includes an extensive planning process of more than 70 outreach and engagement events, more than $41 million in project investments designed by residents and stakeholders, and seven strategy documents highlighting takeaways and recommended actions.
LA SAFE Goals
LA SAFE is a comprehensive strategy for community adaptation and resilience, concepts that may have different meanings to different people. For the purposes of this strategy, the following definitions were used.
Adaptation
the process of modifying behavior to suit changing environmental conditions.
Resilience
the capacity of individuals, communities, and systems to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.
LA SAFE provides a regional strategy and six individual parish strategies. The regional plan describes regional-scale challenges and corresponding program and policy recommendations. Each parish strategy provides more detailed recommendations and includes six project proposals applicable to that specific parish. Within each parish, one or two projects—chosen from the six projects described in its individual plan—are funded for implementation by LA SAFE. These projects and programs were developed and selected in concert with the engagement process, based on qualitative and quantitative community benefit, leverage funding, community preference, and parish benefit through the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS).
Through policies, programs, and projects, LA SAFE offers a set of community-driven strategies designed to provide a holistic approach to reducing long-term risk and increasing Louisiana’s ability to prepare for and recover from disasters and other disruptions. The adaptation recommendations in this strategy and in LA SAFE’s six parish strategies integrate stormwater management, housing and development, transportation, education, economy, and jobs, and culture and recreation (including social/public services) to provide community benefits that improve quality of life while mitigating flood risk.
Throughout the LA SAFE process, stakeholders recognized that thinking and cooperating regionally is instrumental to adapt to increasing risk and to create a resilient and vibrant coast in support of the state and the nation. Parish residents discussed the impact of land use decisions on the region, the need to coordinate transportation and economic development efforts for the betterment of all residents, and the impacts of water management actions on adjacent parishes, especially along bayous and rivers. They expressed their shared concerns about their ability to live on the coast, to retain their young people, to maintain their businesses and attract workers, and to provide amenities to enhance everyone’s quality of life.
www.lasafe.la.gov
Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments (LA SAFE) provides a holistic approach to flood risk of all types as well as the myriad of human, economic, and environmental impacts experienced following past floods and those anticipated in the future. To develop aspirational—yet realistic—visions of tomorrow’s communities, LA SAFE led a grassroots effort across six-parishes to gather information and ideas while harnessing the experience and ingenuity of local citizens. It includes an extensive planning process of more than 70 outreach and engagement events, more than $41 million in project investments designed by residents and stakeholders, and seven strategy documents highlighting takeaways and recommended actions.
LA SAFE Goals
- To generate parish-wide, community-driven
adaptation strategies focused on opportunities for residents and stakeholders
to proactively adapt and prepare for anticipated environmental changes over the
next 10, 25, and 50 years.
-
To implement a catalytic project in each of
the six parishes that demonstrates adaptive development practices that conform
to current and future flood risks. Furthermore, LA SAFE is intended to identify
and support development of resilience-building projects and practices that can
serve as models for the entire region.
-
To create a statewide adaptation model that
enhances long-term sustainability and resilience for all Louisiana parishes.
LA SAFE is a comprehensive strategy for community adaptation and resilience, concepts that may have different meanings to different people. For the purposes of this strategy, the following definitions were used.
Adaptation
the process of modifying behavior to suit changing environmental conditions.
Resilience
the capacity of individuals, communities, and systems to survive, adapt, and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.
LA SAFE provides a regional strategy and six individual parish strategies. The regional plan describes regional-scale challenges and corresponding program and policy recommendations. Each parish strategy provides more detailed recommendations and includes six project proposals applicable to that specific parish. Within each parish, one or two projects—chosen from the six projects described in its individual plan—are funded for implementation by LA SAFE. These projects and programs were developed and selected in concert with the engagement process, based on qualitative and quantitative community benefit, leverage funding, community preference, and parish benefit through the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS).
Through policies, programs, and projects, LA SAFE offers a set of community-driven strategies designed to provide a holistic approach to reducing long-term risk and increasing Louisiana’s ability to prepare for and recover from disasters and other disruptions. The adaptation recommendations in this strategy and in LA SAFE’s six parish strategies integrate stormwater management, housing and development, transportation, education, economy, and jobs, and culture and recreation (including social/public services) to provide community benefits that improve quality of life while mitigating flood risk.
Throughout the LA SAFE process, stakeholders recognized that thinking and cooperating regionally is instrumental to adapt to increasing risk and to create a resilient and vibrant coast in support of the state and the nation. Parish residents discussed the impact of land use decisions on the region, the need to coordinate transportation and economic development efforts for the betterment of all residents, and the impacts of water management actions on adjacent parishes, especially along bayous and rivers. They expressed their shared concerns about their ability to live on the coast, to retain their young people, to maintain their businesses and attract workers, and to provide amenities to enhance everyone’s quality of life.
www.lasafe.la.gov
