Louisiana

Heimerman earns LSWA All-Louisiana Women’s Coach of the Year, NSU represented in 13 events

Published

2 years ago

July 21, 2024

Heimerman earns LSWA All-Louisiana Women’s Coach of the Year, NSU represented in 13 events

NATCHITOCHES, La. (KALB) – Leading the Northwestern State women’s track and field team to a pair of Southland Conference titles, including its first ever outdoor conference championship, earned head coach Mike Heimerman the LSWA All-Louisiana Women’s Coach of the Year, which was announced Saturday.

Heimerman, who fell one vote shy of taking home the All-Louisiana Coach of the Year last season, led a total of 16 women’s athletes or relay teams that made the outdoor All-Conference, including four on the first team and seven more on the second team.

In the past two years, he has led the NSU women to two indoor team titles and the first outdoor team title in program history this season, as well as a second-place finish.

In addition to Heimerman’s superlative honor, NSU also captured 12 spots in individual events and one each on all four relay teams.

Zachaeus Beard, Sanaria Butler and Djimon Gumbs all earned spots on the All-Louisiana team in multiple individual events.

NSU placed the most athletes on the All-Louisiana team outside of LSU.

Beard, who reached the semifinals in the 100-meter dash at the U.S. Olympic trials, grabs a spot on the second team in the 200-meter dash and third team in the 100.

To earn a second team selection in the 200, he clocked a 20.48 at the SLC Outdoor meet to capture the silver.

In his signature event, the First Team All-American ran an impressive 10.03—adjusted for wind—at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout to win the event and post the best time in the conference this season.

Beard also was a member of both relay teams, which both earned second team spots, only behind LSU.

In the 4×100, the quartet of Beard, Cyrus Jacobs, Keontae Gaines and Mikkel Johansson collected a spot at nationals in Oregon on the strength of a 39.25 at regionals in Kentucky and also earned them a spot on the All-Louisiana Second Team.

Beard, Jacobs, Desmond Duncan and Jaysaun Smith also made the second team in the men’s 4×400 relay team, clocking a 3:08.27 at the conference championships.

Like Beard, Sanaria Butler also made the team in multiple individual events as well as both relay teams.

She ran a school-record 52.09 at the NCAA East Regionals in the 400-meter dash, which earned her a spot on the second team.

Butler collected a spot on the third team in the long jump, posting a 20-5.25 at the Bobcat Invitational.

The sensational sophomore also led the NSU women’s 4×400 relay team to a Second Team All-American selection and spot on Second Team All-Louisiana. The team of Butler, Maygan Shaw, Tranasia Jones and Vanessa Balde smashed the school record, running a 3:29.22 to earn a spot at nationals and a spot on the All-Louisiana team.

Butler, along with Shaw, Balde and Lynell Washington collected a spot on the second team in the 4×100 relay after running a 44.43 in front of the home crowd at the Leon Johnson Invitational.

Gumbs’ record-breaking season earned him a pair of first team honors, including one of two NSU athletes to make the first team, which he did in the shot put.

In the event, Gumbs tossed a school-record 66-7 at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout, which earned him the top spot in the conference and the state this season.

Not only did he post a terrific performance at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout in the shot put, he did so in the discus as well at the meet.

Gumbs claimed a third team selection in the discus, tossing a 186-3.

The NSU athlete other than Gumbs to earn a first team selection is senior pole vaulter Madison Brown, who cleared 13-4.25 at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout.

She is joined on the team by friend and teammate Annemarie Broussard, who claimed third in the pole vault, clearing 12-11.5, also recorded at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout.

Joining Butler as an NSU athlete on the All-Louisiana team in the 400 is Shaw, who clocked a 52.59 at the Leon Johnson Invitational on the home track.

Gumbs was not the only member of his family to make the team, as he was joined by twin brother Diamante Gumbs in the discus.

Diamante earned some bragging rights, as he claimed second team to Djimon’s third team in the discus. Diamante launched a 195-2 at the NCAA East Regional in Kentucky, which punched his ticket to Eugene and nationals.

On the women’s side, Kaitlyn Washington also made All-Louisiana in the discus, earning third place with a toss of 170-2 at the LSU Alumni Gold.

In the shot put, Shakera Williams placed second in the state, thrilling the home crowd at the Leon Johnson Invitational, tossing a 48-11.5.

LSU either won or tied eight of the 10 superlative awards, including all five on the men’s side.

All-Louisiana Superlatives

MEN
- Track – Godson Oghenebrume, LSU
- Field – Claudio Romero, LSU
  Freshman – Jaiden Reid, LSU
- Newcomer – Myles Thomas, LSU
- Coach – (TIE) – Yhann Plummer, Xavier; Dennis Shaver LSU
WOMEN
- Track – Brianna Lyston, LSU
- Field – Eunice Ilunga Mbuyi, ULM
  Freshman – Tima Godbless, LSU
- Newcomer – Estel Valeanu, LSU
Coach – Mike Heimerman, Northwestern State
- The complete list of best times in the 2024 Outdoor season:
100 Meters (MEN)
- Oghenebrume, Godson/LSU/Jr./9.99/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Fleming, Da’Marcus/LSU/Sr./10.03/LSU Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024
- Beard, Zachaeus/Northwestern State/Sr./10.03/Corky-Crofoot Shootout/April 26, 2024
100 Meters (WOMEN)
- Lyston, Brianna/LSU/So./10.84/LSU Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024
- Davies, Thelma/LSU/Sr./10.92/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
- Godbless, Tima/LSU/Fr./11.03/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
200 Meters (MEN)
- Fleming, Da’Marcus/LSU/Sr./20.42/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Beard, Zachaeus/Northwestern St./Sr./20.48/SLC Outdoors/April 20, 2024
- Reid, Jaiden/LSU/Fr./20.51/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
200 Meters (Women)
- Davies, Thelma/LSU/Sr./22.17/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Lyston, Brianna/LSU/So./22.31/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Godbless, Tima/LSU/Fr./22.63/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
400 Meters (MEN)
- Bedell, Dillon/LSU/Jr./45.30/Tom Jones Memorial/April 12, 2024
- Jones, Javed/Louisiana/Sr./46.17/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Burrell, Sean/LSU/Sr./46.19/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
400 Meters (WOMEN)
- Onojuvwevwo, Ella/LSU/So./50.57/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Butler, Sanaria/Northwestern St./So./52.09/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
- Shaw, Maygan/Northwestern St./Jr./52.59/Johnson NSU Invitational/April 12, 2024
800 Meters (MEN)
- Swanson, Mats/LSU/So./1:48.78/LSU Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024
- Travis, Isiah/LSU/Sr./1:48.81/LSU Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024
- Martin, Alex/McNeese State/Fr./1:49.07/Carl Kight Invitational/April 11, 2024
800 Meters (WOMEN)
- Rose, Michaela/LSU/Jr./1:58.37/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
- Bangel Batres, Lorena/LSU/Sr./2:03.00/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
- Monk, Montana/LSU/So./2:05.81/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
1500 Meters (MEN)
- Langley, Rhen/LSU/Fr./3:43.72/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
- Kunin, Illia/Tulane/Jr./3:44.97/Bran Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
- El-Fadi, Omer/McNeese/Jr./3:45.71/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
1500 Meters (WOMEN)
- Rangel Batres, Lorena/LSU/Sr./4:09.06/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
- Rose, Michaela/LSU/Jr./4:18.88/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
- Hardy, Callie/LSU/Jr./4:20.26/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
5000 Meters (MEN)
- Kunin, Illia/Tulane/Jr./13:46.94/Raleigh Relays/March 28, 2024
- Jennings, Jack/Tulane/Sr./14:03.01/Wake Forest Invitational/April 19, 2024
- Pardo, Evan/New Orleans/So./14:17.67/Texas Relays/March 29, 2024
5000 Meters (WOMEN)
- Chesnut, Ella/LSU/So./16:11.49/Brian Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
- Vaquera, Paula/Tulane/So./16:20.79/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
- Diaz, Danna/Tulane/Sr./16:34.18/Raleigh Relays/March 28, 2024
10,000 Meters (MEN)
- Jennings, Jack/Tulane/Jr./28:28.72/Raleigh Relays/March 28, 2024
- Adkins, Ryan/Tulane/Gr./29:55.12/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
- Kimutai, Gilbert/McNeese/Jr./31:08.11/Southland Championships/May 9, 2024
10,000 Meters (WOMEN)
- Chesnut, Ella/LSU/So./32:46.56/Raleigh Relays/March 28, 2024
- Spalitta, Brooke/Louisiana/So./37:16.91/Victor Lopez Classic/March 21, 2024
- DeKay, Rebecca/New Orleans/40:08.73/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024
100 Hurdles (WOMEN)
- Armstrong, Alia/LSU/Sr./12.66/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Phillips, Leah/LSU/Sr./12.71/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
- Bellamy, Shani’a/LSU/Sr./12.77/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
110 Hurdles (MEN)
- Stern, Jahiem/LSU/So./13.38/NCAA East Regional/May 22, 2024
- Sophia, Matthew/LSU/So./13.37/NCAA Championship/June 5, 2024
- Adesola, John/Jr./New Orleans/13.56/NCAA Championships/June 5, 2024
400 Hurdles (MEN)
- Burrell, Sean/LSU/Sr./49.44/NCAA East Regional/May 24, 2024
- Jones, Javed/Louisiana/Sr./49.44/NCAA East Regional/May 24, 2024
- Powell, Jaden/McNeese/Jr./51.32/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024
400 Hurdles (WOMEN)
- Bellamy, Shani’a/LSU/Sr./55.71/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
- Phillips, Leah/LSU/Sr./56.50/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
- White, Garriel/LSU/Jr./56.88/Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024
3000 Steeplechase (MEN)
- Peyton Chiasson/Louisiana/Jr./9:07.95/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Kimaiyo, Kevin/McNeese/So./9:37.80/Southland Championships/May 9, 2024
- Wong, Mason/Tulane/Gr./9:40.97/East Coast Relays/April 26, 2024
3000 Steeplechase (WOMEN)
- Hardy, Callie/LSU/Jr./10:29.37/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Barcenas, Jeny/McNeese/So./10:30.48/Bryan Clay Invitational/April 11, 2024
- Pascoa, Marta/McNeese/Jr./10:43.68/Texas Relays/March 27, 2004
4X100 Relay (MEN)LSU/Myles Thomas, Marcus Fleming, Jaiden Reid, Godson Oghenebrume/38.19/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Northwestern State/Zachaeus Beard, Cyrus Jacobs, Keontae’ Gaines, Mikkel Johansson/39.25/NCAA East Regional/May 24, 2024
- Louisiana/Trejun Jones, Zakhy Munro, Floyd Pond, Jamhad Booth/39.31/Tiger Track Classic/April 20, 2024
4X100 Relay (WOMEN)
- LSU/Brianna Lyston, Thelma Davies, Leah Phillips, Tima Godbless/42.49/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Northwestern State/Maygan Shaw, Sanaria Butler, Vanessa Balde, Lynell Washington/44.43/Johnson NSU Invitational/April 12, 2024
- Louisiana/Amairi Ashford, Ta’La Spates, Kennedy London, Mari Robinson/44.71/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
4X400 Relay (MEN)LSU/Sean Burrell, Salim Epps, Shakeem McKay, Dillon Bedell/3:01.28/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Northwestern St./Desmond Duncan, Cyrus Jacobs, Zachaeus Beard, Jaysaun Smith/3:08.27/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Louisiana/Antoni Hoyte-Small, Javed Jones, Darrius Charles, Jarell Joseph/3:08.75/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
4X400 Relay (WOMEN)
- LSU/Ella Onojuvwewo, Shani’a Bellamy, Michaela Rose, Garriel White/3:26.55/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
- Northwestern St./Maygan Shaw, Sanaria Butler, Tranasia Jones, Vanessa Balde/3:29.22/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
- Louisiana Tech/Jamara Patterson, Joy Usenbor, Saran Kouyate, Jenaia Williams/3:37.99/C-USA Outdoors/May 9, 2024
High Jump (MEN)
- Chadenga, Kuda/LSU/Jr./7-3.25/Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024
- Stevic, Slavko/SE Louisiana/Sr./7-2.25/Louisiana Classic/March 15, 2024
- Smith, Roman/Southern/Jr./7-1.75/SWAC Outdoors/May 2, 2024
High Jump (WOMEN)
- Smalls, Morgan/LSU/Sr./6-0.5/NCAA East Regional/May 25, 2024
- Famous, Sakari/McNeese/Sr./5-11.5/Southland Championships/May 9, 2024
- Williams, A’reil/Louisiana Tech/Fr./5-9.25/C-USA Outdoors/May 10, 2024
- Washington, Kennedy/Louisiana/Sr./5-9.25/Johnson NSU Invitational/April 12, 2024
- Veal, Alaysha/Louisiana/Fr./5-9.25/Johnson NSU Invitational/April 12, 2024
Pole Vault (MEN)
- Domingue, Beau/LSU/So./17-0.75/Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024
- Aime, Kameron/LSU/Sr./16-8.75/Hurricane Invitational/March 15, 2024
- Russell, Nick/Louisiana/Sr./16-5.5/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
Pole Vault (WOMEN)
- Brown, Madison/Northwestern St./Sr./13-4.25/Corky-Crofoot Shootout/April 26, 2024
- Duplantis, Johanna/LSU/Sr./13-1.5/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
- Broussard, Annemarie/Northwestern St./Sr./12-11.5/Corky-Crofoot Shootout/April 26, 2024
Long Jump (MEN)
- Murphy, Christopher/New Orleans/Jr./25-4.75/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Bullock, Ji’eem/LSU/Sr./25-2/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
- Lambert, Lawrence/Grambling/So./25-2/Southern Invitational/May 10, 2024
Long Jump (WOMEN)
- Small, Morgan/LSU/Sr./21-6.75/Battle on the Bayou/March 29, 2024
- Ilunga Mbuyi, Eunice/ULM/Jr./20-6.25/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Butler, Sanaria/Northwestern State/So./20-5.25/Mt. SAC Relays/April 17, 2024
Triple Jump (MEN)
- Nelson, Jeremy/Louisiana/So./52-10.75/NCAA East Regional/May 24, 2024
- Alexander, Seth/Xavier/Sr./50-9.25/NAIA Nationals/May 24, 2024
- Hamilton, Lance/SE Louisiana/Jr./50-8.25/Texas Relays/March 27, 2024
Triple Jump (WOMEN)
- Ilunga Mbuyi, Eunice/ULM/Jr./43-10.5/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Smalls, Morgan/LSU/Sr./43-2.5/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
- Fingers, Taylor/LSU/Fr./42-6/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
Shot Put (MEN)
- Gumbs, Djimon/Northwestern St./Sr./66-7/Corky-Crofoot Shootout/April 26, 2024
- Meyer, John/LSU/Sr./64-7/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Francis, Marcus/McNeese/59-10.5/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024
Shot Put (WOMEN)
- Valeanu, Estel/LSU/Sr./52-6.75/LSU Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024
- Williams, Shakera/Northwestern St./Jr./48-11.5/NSU Invitational/April 12, 2024
- Russell, Jaslyn/McNeese/So./47-5.75/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024
Discus (MEN)
- Romero, Claudio/LSU/Sr./220-9/LSU Alumni Golf/April 20, 2024
- Gumbs, Diamante/Northwestern St./Sr./195-2/NCAA East Regional/May 24, 2024Gumbs, Djimon/Northwestern St./Sr./186-3/Corky-Crofoot Shootout/April 26, 2024
Discus (WOMEN)
- Valeanu, Estel/LSU/Sr./188-9/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
- Hines, Kimola/Louisiana/Jr./171-1/Crimson Tide Invitational/April 5, 2024
- Washington, Kaitlyn/Northwestern St./So./170-2/LSU Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024
Hammer (MEN)
- Webb, Terrell/SE Louisiana/Sr./213-11/Talley Invitational/March 23, 2024
- Witte, Johnathan/LSU/Jr./200-11/LSU Invitational/April 27, 2024
- Visser, Gerrit/SE Louisiana/Jr./196-2/Southern Miss Invitational/March 29, 2024
Hammer (WOMEN)
- Lee, Mariah/McNeese/Sr./193-5/Warhawk Classic/April 26, 2024
- Murray, Lily/Louisiana/Fr./189-11/Talley Invitational/March 23, 2024
- Valeanu, Estel/LSU/Sr./188-1/SEC Outdoors/May 9, 2024
Javelin (MEN)
- Lawrence, Will/LSU/Jr./245-4/Jones Memorial/April 12, 2024
- Larriviere, Jack/LSU/So./234-11/LSU Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024
- Rimes, Jackson/LSU/Jr./233-8/Hurricane Invitational/March 15, 2024
Javelin (WOMEN)
- Spooner, Trinity/LSU/Fr./181-3/LSU Alumni Gold/April 20, 2024
- Guillory, Alexis/LSU/Fr./164-9/Hurricane Invitational/March 15, 2024
- Beard, Blanche/McNeese/Sr./164-5/Texas Relays/March 27, 2024
Heptathlon (WOMEN)
- Raud-Gumiel, Claudine/ULM/Jr./5496/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Talley, Morgan/McNeese/Sr./5204/Southland Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Walls, Taylor/Louisiana/Sr./5189/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
Decathlon (MEN)
- Bovo, Federico/Louisiana/Fr./6830/Sun Belt Outdoors/May 9, 2024
- Holland, Aiden/LA Tech/Jr./5420/C-USA Outdoors/May 11, 2024

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Louisiana

Louisiana’s disappearing coast could shape Baton Rouge’s future

Published

5 hours ago

June 1, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana’s disappearing coast could shape Baton Rouge’s future

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – South Louisiana’s coast has long served as a natural buffer between communities and rising water.

But since the 1930s, Louisiana has lost nearly 2,000 square miles of coastal land.

Dr. Torbjorn Tornqvist, a professor at Tulane University, said Louisiana is one of the most vulnerable coastal areas in the world because of climate change, sea level rise and subsidence.

“Louisiana is arguably one of the most vulnerable… perhaps the most vulnerable coastal zones in the world when it comes to climate change and sea level rise… and there are several reasons for that but one important reason is that we have high subsidence rates, and that means sea level rise here is a lot faster than the average around the world,” Tornqvist said.

Tornqvist is the lead author of a recently published study examining the long-term impacts of sea level rise across south Louisiana.

He said the issue is no longer limited to communities closest to the Gulf Coast.

“People are leaving the coast of Louisiana, but it’s going to accelerate over the course of the century. And those people are going to have to go somewhere, and it’s likely that a significant number are going to look at a place like Baton Rouge to move to,” Tornqvist said.

Since Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana has invested billions of dollars in large-scale restoration projects designed to reduce flood risk and strengthen the coast.

Some researchers believe those projects are important but not permanent fixes.

“We have…right now we have a pretty high-quality flood protection system that’s obviously way better than it was during Katrina and we should certainly keep investing in upkeep, but we also have to recognize that’s only going to take us so far,” Tornqvist said.

State officials say those investments remain critical as Louisiana adapts to future flood risks.

Micheal Hare, executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, said the state’s coastal plan is designed to balance restoration work with protection projects, including levees.

“Our 2023 master plan certainly incorporates the best science available to us to then come up with a balanced approach between how do we effectively spend money on restoration as well as money on protection projects like levees,” Hare said.

Hare said those projects will continue to evolve as future risks change. CPRA and the Army Corps of Engineers are re-evaluating portions of the West Bank and Vicinity levee system in New Orleans to meet projected future flood risks within the next half-decade.

“Morganza to the Gulf is a great example, location communities came together, they started funding it…so that protection is critical…It will constantly be maintained and constantly elevated to meet the new levels of threats and risks that are out there,” Hare said.

Coastal officials and researchers agree that what happens along Louisiana’s coast will continue to affect communities far beyond the shoreline for generations.

“And so maybe you don’t live behind the levee, but I promise you want those coastal communities to stay there and to keep working, and to stay productive and engaged…so that we don’t have to have these flood fights further north or lose parts of our economy,” Hare said.

Tornqvist said the decisions made now could shape the future of Louisiana communities.

“What’s really important to recognize is that the next few decades are basically going to decide the long-term future of cities like Baton Rouge,” Tornqvist said.

Louisiana has always lived with water. As the coast changes and sea levels rise, the challenge is how communities across south Louisiana continue adapting for generations to come.

From the Gulf Coast to Baton Rouge, the future of Louisiana’s coastline is a conversation that impacts the entire state.

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Louisiana

Louisiana is the eighth most affordable state to retire, study says

Published

16 hours ago

June 1, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana is the eighth most affordable state to retire, study says

Louisiana ranks among the top 10 most affordable states to retire, according to a new study from Retirement Living, a national journal of retirement research.

Researchers analyzed each state’s housing costs, living expenses and tax friendliness to compile the ranking. Louisiana, they say, is the eighth most affordable state for retirees.

In Louisiana, the median monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $932, the median home sale price is $255,000, monthly grocery spend per capita is $272, the average price per gallon of regular gas is $4, the average Medicare Advantage monthly premium is $13.35 and the average effective property tax rate is 0.55%.

West Virginia is the most affordable state to retire, followed by Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Louisiana, Indiana and Kansas. Researchers describe the South as “the sweet spot for an affordable retirement.”

The most expensive state to retire, meanwhile, is California, followed by Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Utah, New York and Minnesota.

Read Retirement Living’s full report here.

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Louisiana

Louisiana agencies urge hurricane preparation ahead of season start

Published

1 day ago

June 1, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana agencies urge hurricane preparation ahead of season start

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – With hurricane season approaching, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is bringing the community together to prepare before a storm forms.

“We can’t stop disasters from happening. We can’t stop hurricanes from happening. But what we can do is equip our communities with the resources that they need to prepare for these storms ahead of time,” said Jayda Morris, CPRA outreach manager.

The agency hosted an event featuring interactive storm simulations and a full model of the Mississippi River.

“If you do it now, like on a sunny day like today, you’re ready to go for the rest of the season,” Jay Grymes said.

El Niño may reduce storms, but Louisiana still at risk

State Climatologist Jay Grymes said an El Niño pattern may reduce the number of storms in the Atlantic but warned against a false sense of security.

“In those 25 years, Louisiana, some part of the state has been impacted by 29 storms. That’s one a year, regardless of El Niño. So that should tell you something,” Grymes said.

He said the bigger concern is storms that can form in the Gulf with little warning.

“If we’re going to get a storm, it very possibly could be one that bubbles up in the Gulf and doesn’t give us five or seven days to track it coming our way. It gives us 40 hours to get ready for a landfall. So it’s imperative that you go ahead and do it now,” Grymes said.

Preparation goes beyond stocking water

Preparing now includes walking through yards, checking trees, and knowing whether everyone in the family can survive two weeks without power.

PhD students with the LSU College of the Coast and Environment gave the community a virtual reality experience that puts users inside a storm.

“If they wear the goggles or play with the Apple Vision Pro, they can understand how high will the flood be, and they can know how dangerous is the hurricane scenario,” said Yixuan Wang.

The VR simulation uses real historical data to show users what compound flooding looks like in New Orleans and surrounding areas. The goal is to make the science real for people who can’t picture what a flood map means.

“It’s just to let you understand the environment. We will add the audios, the different sound of the wind and the storm. And you can see how tense of the rainfall around you,” Wang said.

Organizers said the event is about making sure that when a storm threatens the area, families already know their plan.

Information from the event is available on CPRA’s website. Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.

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