GOAL 1 – Strengthen Infrastructure Resiliency to Natural Disasters
OBJECTIVE
Enhance infrastructure to reduce the economic impact of natural disasters, particularly in high-risk parishes like East Feliciana, St. Helena, and Washington, which exhibit low community resiliency and high vulnerability to natural hazards.
ACTION 1.2
Collaborate with private broadband providers to leverage Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) potential locations for broadband expansion in Washington Parish (10,467 potential locations) and East Feliciana Parish (4,986 potential locations).
TIMELINE: Year 1-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Local governments
- FEMA
- State of Louisiana
- Engineering firms
- Amite River Basin
- DRA
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
Increase broadband access for 10,000+ residents in underserved areas
TIMELINE: Year 2-4
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Louisiana Connect
- Broadband providers
- Emergency management agencies
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
Establish broadband connectivity in 5,000 underserved households to support emergency communication during natural disasters.
GOAL 2 – Reduce Social Vulnerability and Support Vulnerable Populations
OBJECTIVE
Address social vulnerabilities in parishes like Washington, Tangipahoa, and Iberville, which are particularly susceptible to long-term damage from disasters and face higher levels of poverty and limited access to resources.
ACTION 2.1
Assist in developing and implementing targeted poverty alleviation programs in parishes with very high social vulnerability to enhance economic mobility and disaster preparedness.
ACTION 2.2
Enhance access to affordable housing and improve housing resilience in high-vulnerability areas by offering incentives for flood- and storm-resistant construction.
ACTION 2.3
Support a Capital Region Louisiana Flood and Wind Resistant Construction Accelerator program as a pathway to safer homes while mitigating insurance affordability.
TIMELINE: Year 1-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Local NGOs
- Community organizations
- state social services
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
Decrease poverty rates by 10% in Washington, Tangipahoa, and Iberville parishes through workforce training and financial literacy programs.
TIMELINE: Year 2-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- EBR Housing Authority
- FEMA
- Private developers
- LU AgCenter’s LaHouse
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
Build or retrofit 500 housing units to meet flood and wind-resistant standards, reducing the vulnerability of low-income households.
TIMELINE: Year 2-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- LSU
- LHC
- Build Baton Rouge
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
10% increase in flood and wind resistant standards while lowering insurance premiums.
GOAL 3 – Make Broadband Affordable for Low-Income Households
OBJECTIVE
Ensure small businesses are equipped to withstand economic shocks and recover quickly from natural disasters, particularly in disaster-prone parishes like East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Tangipahoa.
ACTION 3.1
ACTION 3.2
Assist in establishing or bringing awareness to a small business recovery fund that supports business continuity during and after disasters, prioritizing businesses in East Baton Rouge, Ascension, and Livingston parishes with high expected annual losses.
TIMELINE: Year 1-3
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Baton Rouge Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce
- BRNEDD
- BRAC
- FEMA
- Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce
- Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation, Inc.
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
Train 1,000 small businesses in disaster recovery and provide access to recovery funds, ensuring faster economic recovery post-disaster.
TIMELINE: Year 2-4
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- SBA
- Local financial institutions
- State government
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
Provide emergency funding to 500 businesses, helping to sustain operations during natural disasters.
ACTION 3.3
Work with disaster prone areas to map and develop resiliency hubs or community disaster resilience zones as defined by FEMA based upon services and programs, communications, building & landscapes, power, and operations.
ACTION 3.2
Coordinate and maintain the Capital Region’s hazard mitigation plans
TIMELINE: Year 3-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- FEMA
- GOHSEP
- Parish governments
- Public Service Commission
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
Increase awareness of the benefits of Ascension Parish Community Disaster Resilience Zone FEMA designation for future duplication.
TIMELINE: Year 1-3
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Stephenson Disaster Management Institute
- Parish government
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
To continue to improve regional watershed and hazard mitigation planning, and emergency/business preparedness to support economic resilience and speed recovery after natural disasters.
GOAL 4 – Address Environmental and Public Health Risks
OBJECTIVE
Improve air quality and public health in areas like East Baton Rouge and Hammond, where industrial activity contributes to air quality concerns through the Regional Climate Pollution Reduction Plan.
ACTION 4.1
Collaborate with local industries to reduce emissions and improve air quality in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area and the Hammond Metropolitan Area.
ACTION 4.2
Launch public health campaigns to raise awareness about the health risks associated with poor air quality, targeting vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
TIMELINE: Year 1-3
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Local industries
- Environmental agencies
- Health departments
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
Reduce industrial emissions by 10% and improve air quality by increasing the number of “good air quality” days by 15%
TIMELINE: Year 1-3
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- Health departments
- Local media
- Community organizations
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
Improve public health outcomes by reducing hospital admissions for respiratory issues by 10% in areas with poor air quality.
GOAL 5 – Enhance Community Rating System (CRS) Participation
OBJECTIVE
Improve CRS ratings for flood-prone parishes, providing residents with greater discounts on flood insurance and reducing flood risks.
ACTION 5.1
Increase community participation in the CRS program by lessening the perceived burden through technical assistance and guidance, particularly in Livingston Parish and French Settlement Village, which currently have low participation rates.
ACTION 5.2
Implement additional flood mitigation efforts in high-risk parishes to improve CRS scores and reduce insurance premiums.
TIMELINE: Year 1-5
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
- FEMA
- Local governments
- Floodplain managers
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
Improve CRS ratings for Livingston Parish and French Settlement Village from Class 10 to Class 8, resulting in a 10% reduction in flood insurance premiums for residents.
TIMELINE: Year 2-4
BUDGET: $00
POTENTIAL PARTNERS
- Local governments
- Floodplain management experts
EVALUATION OUTCOME:
Reduce flood risk and improve resilience for 2,500 homes through flood mitigation projects, decreasing the economic impact of floods.