ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMIC RESILIENCE

The Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC) is focused on improving economic resiliency by addressing vulnerabilities related to natural hazards, social disparities, air quality, and disaster preparedness. This report integrates insights from the Community Resiliency Rating, Social Vulnerability Rating, Expected Annual Loss (EAL), Community Rating System (CRS), and Air Quality to provide a comprehensive overview of resilience across the CRPC region. These factors are critical in determining the overall capacity of communities to withstand, adapt to, and recover from disruptions such as natural hazards.

Community Resiliency Rating

A community resilience rating reflects a community’s capacity to withstand, adapt to, and recover from disruptions. A higher rating indicates less risk and greater resilience.

Based on the map, we find:

Low Community Resiliency:

East Feliciana, St. Helena, and Washington parishes have low community resilience, making them more vulnerable to natural disasters and slower in recovery.

Moderate Community Resiliency:

Ascension, Tangipahoa, and West Feliciana parishes exhibit moderate community resilience, indicating that while they are better prepared, more disaster preparedness and infrastructure improvements are needed to enhance resilience further.

Social Vulnerability rating

This rating indicates the degree to which a community is vulnerable to natural hazards and other stressors. A higher social vulnerability rating suggests that a community is more likely to experience negative outcomes in the face of challenges.

According to the map:

Very High Social Vulnerability:

Washington, Tangipahoa, St. Helena, East Baton Rouge, and Iberville parishes have very high social vulnerability, making them more susceptible to long-term damage from disasters.

High Social Vulnerability:

East Feliciana and Pointe Coupee parishes exhibit high social vulnerability, indicating that residents face challenges related to poverty, limited access to healthcare, and infrastructure issues.

Low Social Vulnerability:

West Feliciana, West Baton Rouge, and Livingston parishes have relatively low social vulnerability, putting them in a better position to handle disaster-related stress.

Very Low Social Vulnerability:

Ascension Parish has very low social vulnerability, indicating that it is one of the most resilient areas in terms of social factors.

Expected Annual Loss

This rating measures the average expected financial loss a community can expect from natural hazards annually. A higher rating indicates a higher potential for significant economic damage.

The map highlights:

High Expected Annual Loss:

East Baton Rouge, Ascension, Livingston, and Tangipahoa parishes have relatively high EAL ratings, indicating these areas are at greater financial risk from natural hazards, particularly flooding.

Moderate Expected Annual Loss:

Washington Parish has a moderate EAL rating, reflecting moderate risk for financial losses.

Low Expected Annual Loss:

East Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, and Iberville parishes have relatively low EAL ratings, meaning they face less risk of significant financial losses from natural disasters.

Very Low Expected Annual Loss:

West Baton Rouge and St. Helena parishes have very low EAL ratings, suggesting very low risk for major financial losses from disasters.

Air Quality

Air quality ratings assess the level of pollution in a community. Poor air quality affects public health and can result in higher healthcare costs and reduced economic productivity.

The pie charts provide a clear view of air quality across the region. The data in the pie chart to the right from 2022 is based on air quality assessments in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area and the Hammond Metropolitan Area.

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area (2022):

Good Air Quality Days: 163 days
Moderate Air Quality Days: 100 days
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Days: 10 days

This data suggests that while the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area experiences a majority of good and moderate air quality days, the presence of 10 unhealthy days for sensitive groups poses health risks, particularly to those with respiratory conditions. These issues are likely exacerbated by industrial activity in the area, as reflected on the map.

Hammond Metropolitan Area (2022):

Good Air Quality Days: 53 days
Moderate Air Quality Days: 7 days
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Days: 0 days

In contrast, the Hammond Metropolitan Area enjoys more consistent air quality, with no reported unhealthy days for sensitive groups. However, the lower number of good air quality days (53) compared to Baton Rouge indicates that air quality improvement efforts could still benefit the region.

# Community Rating System (CRS)

The CRS measures a community’s efforts to reduce flood risks. A higher class results in higher discounts on flood insurance premiums.

Community Rating System (CRS) Eligible Communities in CRPC Region
October 1, 2023, Effective Date
Name	CRS_Entry_Date	Current_Effect_Date	Class	% Discount
Ascension Parish	10/1/1992	10/1/2022	7	15
Baker, City of	10/1/1991	5/1/2016	9	5
Central, City of	5/1/2014	10/1/2020	7	15
Denham Springs, City of	10/1/1991	10/1/2020	8	10
East Baton Rouge Parish	10/1/1991	10/1/2016	7	15
French Settlement, Village of	10/1/1992	5/1/2019	10	0
Gonzales, City of	10/1/1992	5/1/2012	8	10
Livingston Parish	10/1/1992	5/1/2019	10	0
Port Vincent, Village of	10/1/1992	10/1/1997	10	0
Sorrento, Town of	10/1/1992	5/1/2008	9	5
Tangipahoa Parish	10/1/1996	4/1/2023	8	10
Walker, Town of	10/1/1992	10/1/2013	8	10
West Baton Rouge Parish	10/1/1993	10/1/1996	8	10
Zachary, City of	10/1/1992	5/1/2019	8	10

The map shows CRS participation across the CRPC region:

High CRS Class and Discount:

Ascension Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, and Central City offer the highest insurance discounts of 15%, thanks to their strong participation in flood mitigation efforts.

Low CRS Class and Discount:

Livingston Parish and French Settlement Village have a CRS class of 10, receiving no discount, suggesting a need for improved flood mitigation measures.

Recommendations

Increase CRS Participation:
- Livingston Parish and French Settlement Village should enhance flood mitigation efforts to improve their CRS class and receive insurance discounts.
Target Investments in Vulnerable Areas:
- East Feliciana, St. Helena, and Washington parishes, which have low community resilience, should be prioritized for infrastructure improvements and disaster preparedness training.
Mitigate High Expected Annual Loss Areas:
- East Baton Rouge, Ascension, Livingston, and Tangipahoa parishes, with high EAL ratings, should invest in flood control and mitigation measures to reduce expected financial losses.
Address Air Quality Issues:
- The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area should focus on reducing industrial emissions and implementing clean energy initiatives to improve air quality and reduce the number of days classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups.

The CRPC region faces challenges across various aspects of economic resiliency, including community resilience, social vulnerability, flood risks, and air quality. By incorporating insights from the Community Resiliency Rating, Social Vulnerability Rating, Expected Annual Loss Rating, CRS, and Air Quality, the CRPC can strategically allocate resources to enhance community preparedness, reduce financial risks, and improve overall economic health.