Louisiana
Maps Show Which Louisiana Cities Will Be Under Water in 50 Years
VERMILION PARISH, La. (KPEL News) – Louisiana’s disappearing coastline has been a topic of conversation for decades, and it seems like we’re always getting new warnings and dire predictions about our homes in south Louisiana suddenly becoming beachfront property.
People are deeply concerned about Louisiana’s coastline disappearing due to the severe environmental, economic, and social consequences it entails. Louisiana’s coast is rapidly eroding at an alarming rate, primarily due to factors such as land subsidence, sea-level rise, and human activities like oil and gas extraction and canal dredging.
The disappearance of Louisiana’s coastline poses a significant threat to the state’s unique ecosystems, including marshes, wetlands, and barrier islands, which serve as vital habitats for diverse wildlife and help protect inland areas from storm surges and flooding. As these coastal habitats disappear, the region becomes more vulnerable to the impacts of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other natural disasters, exacerbating the risk of property damage, loss of life, and displacement of communities.
Furthermore, Louisiana’s disappearing coastline has profound economic implications, particularly for industries such as fishing, tourism, and shipping, which rely on healthy coastal ecosystems for their livelihoods.
The loss of coastal land also threatens critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, transportation networks, and freshwater supplies, further jeopardizing the state’s economy and public safety.
Overall, the disappearance of Louisiana’s coastline represents a pressing environmental and societal crisis that demands urgent action to mitigate its impacts and preserve this valuable natural resource for future generations.
However, there is one website out there that is attempting to show us what Louisiana might look like in 50 years if things don’t change.
Credit: Climate Central
Louisiana Parishes Underwater?
The map was created by climate researchers at Climate Center, which is an organization of scientists and journalists studying the impacts of climate change on the world. Their goal is to show what the future holds for coastal communities as sea level rise.
Looking at the map Climate Center has provided, it looks like a lot of southern parishes could be at risk.
Just take a look at how much bigger Vermilion Bay could be getting by 2080 if their map holds true.
Credit: Climate Center
New Orleans being surrounded by levies is certainly beneficial for the Big Easy. It looks like everything surrounding the city is set to be underwater or close to being fully submerged in the half-century.
That, however, makes things worse in future hurricane seasons. Less land surrounding New Orleans means more powerful storms making landfall right on top of the city. That would be devastating if it holds true.
Credit: Climate Center
As we endure extreme weather events, researchers warn that those events are becoming stronger and more common. Louisiana has spent a lot of time and money trying to stop its coastline from eroding away, but predictions like these certainly make the threat seem a lot more dire.
We’re no stranger to extreme weather events, though. Take a look at some of the worst most Louisiana residents still talk about.
Most Feared Weather Events in Louisiana
An unscientific poll revealed that south Louisiana residents are most fearful of these weather events.
Gallery Credit: Tracy Wirtz
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.
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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BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Louisiana homeowners can get financial help to upgrade their roofs and ensure they can better stand up to strong storms.
According to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, registration for next Louisiana Fortify Homes Program lottery opens at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 1. The registration period will stay open through 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19.
Under the latest round of the program, 3,000 grants of up to $10,000 will go out. After applying, homeowners will get placed into a lottery and will be randomly selected.
There are many specific benefits of having a roof upgraded through the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. Officials said the roofs have stronger shingles that can protect against hail up to two inches wide, sealed roof decks to help prevent water damage, and stronger edges to keep wind from getting underneath.
Homeowners with a fortified roof can also get a certificate to receive a discount on insurance premiums.
“At the end of the day, this program is about more than just roofs,” said Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple. “It is about protecting families, it is about strengthening communities, and it is about putting Louisiana in a stronger position—both physically and economically—to face the challenges ahead.”
Only people living in Ascension Parish, Livingston Parish, Assumption Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, Acadia Parish, Calcasieu Parish, Cameron Parish, Iberia Parish, Jefferson Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Lafayette Parish, Lafourche Parish, Orleans Parish, Plaquemines Parish, St. Bernard Parish, St. Charles Parish, St. James Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Martin Parish, St. Mary Parish, St. Tammany Parish, Terrebonne Parish, and Vermilion Parish are eligible to apply for the latest round of the program.
People living in a newly built home, mobile home, or condominium are not qualified.
For a detailed list of eligibility requirements, click here.
If a person registered for the program previously, he or she must do so again. The person will also need to provide the following information:
- A homestead exemption on the primary residence.
- A policy of insurance that provides wind coverage for the primary residence.
- A flood insurance policy on the primary residence if it is in a special flood hazard area.
For more information about applying, click here.
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