The story of Noah’s Ark is my all-time
favorite Bible story. Noah was given specific instructions on how to build the
ark. Built from cypress and coated with pitch inside and out, the ark’s profile
would have looked enormous against the horizon. Noah and his family filled the
ark with two of each living creature, male and female. The rain came for forty
days and forty nights. The earth was flooded, and all was lost. The ark came to
rest safely upon the mountains of Ararat. The earth would now have a second chance.
I have always said, "Noah’s Ark was the world’s most
successful flood mitigation project." Noah knew a flood was coming. He listened
to the warnings of what was ahead, he was provided construction plans and took
action to mitigate the flood.
While Louisiana has plenty of cypress, the ark we need in
2022 is legislation. In 2011, Northeast Louisiana was protected from the
Mississippi River by levee’s that were legislated to be built following the
1927 flood. The State has grown since the early 20th Century. Our
hazards and risks have changed. We need new comprehensive legislation that
establishes a risk reduction strategy and guides investments to reduce inland
and coastal flooding.
I encourage our best and brightest to inform our lawmakers
on the need for risk reduction across the State of Louisiana.
We know a flood is coming. We need to take action.
Photograph from the National Weather Service - The great Mississippi River flood of 1927. Refugees in camp near the Louisiana Monument during the Great Flood of 1927 at the Vicksburg National Military Park.
The recovery from the Great Flood of 2016 gave rise to a period
of community rebirth. Officials worked on flood mitigation strategies, housing,
infrastructure, economic recovery, health, and natural and cultural resources. With
the rebuilding underway, public meetings were held and people’s concerns and
ideas were heard. In those early days of the recovery, you could sense the call
to action for change. That sense of urgency still exists.
The political landscaped also changed during this period. And
people were noticeably more interested in cultural happenings and civic events.
The private and public sector continued to invest in the community. Progress
was being made. In August 2020, real estate developer and State Representative
Michael Echols all but declared a Renaissance.
Public art, poetry readings, photography, live musical performances, freedom of speech exercises, and being different are now a permanent part of our
cloth. We can never go back.
Beginning in 2020, the region experienced a prolonged period
of adversity that threatened all the progress made. The community was impacted
but our resilience won. Despite the pandemic, hurricanes, tornadoes, flash
flooding, and a winter storm, public and private investments continue. All things cultural are
flourishing.
The community investments in infrastructure,
economic development and culture continue at a never-before-seen tempo. Our leaders
understand the linkage between business and culture, and they are leveraging.
People will visit our region to experience the art, food, wineries, cultural happenings and great outdoors. Remote workers and businesses will be attracted here for all the afore mentioned amenities.
The culture - business blend model is spreading in the Ouachita River Valley. Be looking for investment opportunities.
On June 7, 2022, a praise to God celebration was held at the Henrietta Johnson Recreation Center at 2800 Burg Jones Lane, Monroe, LA 71202. I was asked to pray over jobs and economic development. It was a wonderful evening. Below is my prayer.
Our Heavenly Father, at the beginning of this “Fast” I prayed
for you to heal this land from flooding and poverty.
Our leaders are working night and day to bring good jobs to
the Delta. Lord, I ask that you give each one of them the strength and wisdom
to help your children.
I pray that you give Kenya Robertson, Kristopher Kelly and
Roy Heatherly the strength to breakdown a thousand walls. Share with all
the leaders from the Delta the path forward to help your children.
Lord, you know it's hard down here sometimes. A good job
solves a lot of problems.
We are here, we will listen, and we will follow.
Amen.
The kids are with Representative Pat Moore, Monroe City School Board Representative Betty Cooper and Senator Katrina Jackson
__________________________
Kenya Robertson, Monroe Regional Black Chamber of Commerce
Kristopher Kelly, West Monroe West Ouachita Chamber of
Commerce
It’s in our national interest for communities
to be successful in their disaster recovery efforts. This was one of the main reasons FEMA established the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF). Your local long-term recovery framework needs to be strong enough to support passionate discussions and public discourse but not so rigid it suppresses new ideas and innovation. Rebuild your community in a way that reduces risks, promotes quality of life and supports economic development.
The quality of recovery on the Gulf Coast impacts inland communities. People returning to work, healing,
rebuilding, community planning, and generating tax revenue are all key
indicators of a community recovering.
A while back, I was in a watershed planning meeting going through
a presentation on flood claims from the Great Flood of 2016. Someone pointed at
the map and asked about the geography that was absent of flood claims. I was
waiting on that question. I then showed them the IA claims and stated the population
in this area could not afford flood insurance. They applied to FEMA for
help in a different program. What followed was a conversation about low and moderate
income (LMI) areas, the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and equity.
Disasters do not impact families equally. Poor
people come from all walks of life. There is linkage between breaking the cycle
of poverty and breaking the cycle of disaster-rebuild -disaster.
Using the early 2000s as a marker, the frequency and magnitude
of natural hazard events is raising questions if not alarms. In Louisiana, we
are living from disaster to disaster. This doesn’t seem normal. I have worked
in this industry for more than 25 years and I have questions.
I will start by asking if our investments in emergency management
are proportional to the increase in frequency and magnitude? Are we attempting
to inhabit geography that is uninhabitable? Are environmental conditions
changing? Is it temporary or permanent? Are we creating emergency response plans
to complex for implementation by humans? Are we appropriately explaining
risks to our people?
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act or as I refer to it “The Stafford Act” has served our nation
well over the years. Is it adequate to manage catastrophic events? Is it
appropriately designed to manage overlapping active disaster declarations for a
common geography?
We need risk reduction across the State of Louisiana. Our lawmakers
need to hear from the next generation. We need our best and brightest working
on this.
All emergency management practitioner, meteorologists,
academia and related fields of study, are encouraged to communicate with their
respective lawmakers. Write your lawmaker, participate in a conference call, or
attend a public meeting. If you have expertise or a storm story you would like to share, lawmakers need to hear from you.
