Louisiana Prepares Response to Coastal Erosion

Louisiana drafted a plan to declare high-risk coastal areas uninhabitable. The plan called Louisiana Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments (LA SAFE) involves prohibitions on building new homes, buyouts of current homeowners and increases in taxes for those who won’t leave.

The costly plan is part of a state initiative funded by the federal government to help the state prepare for coastal erosion. Louisiana is at especially high-risk for the effects of coastal erosion due to rapidly rising sea levels and sinking land levels from oil and gas extraction.

According to the LA SAFE program, high-risk land is defined as land where five decades from now the expected depth of a 100-year flood will reach more than six ft. While the plan is facing backlash from residents reluctant to relocate, Louisiana could potentially set an example for other at risk communities.