I’ll start by introducing myself. My name is Landon Hester. I just joined the CPEX team two weeks ago as the Communications Manager. I started out my career in non-profit communications before going back to school to earn my master’s and then working in legal communications for the past 4 years. I always knew that I eventually wanted to venture back into non-profit communications. There is something so fulfilling about using your skills and abilities to make a difference. When I discovered CPEX, I immediately knew that it was the place I needed to be. This is an organization that recognizes the problems facing our state and develops and implements strategies that work to better our communities.
One of CPEX’s priorities is to create resilient communities across the state, and flood mitigation is a key part of that. This week marks the fifth anniversary of the historic flood that devastated parts of South and Central Louisiana. At the time, I was backpacking through the jungles of Peru with my husband and friends—cut-off from the outside world—without phone service or wifi. Once we reached our next big-city destination, we were immediately bombarded with phone calls from family and friends detailing the devastation taking place back home. We watched helplessly as my husband’s grandmother was rescued by the National Guard and loaded into a military vehicle, as my friend’s mom was saved from the rising floodwaters in a canoe, and as many friends and family members lost everything. We were powerless, unable to help our loved ones, but also unsure as to what we would be returning home to. The fear of the unknown was indescribable.
Unlike a hurricane, this storm came with little warning. On August 11, 2016, South Louisiana residents went to bed with a mere warning from meteorologists that there was a potential for heavy rain coming overnight, possibly reaching 6 to 10 inches. Being from the Louisiana swamps and dealing with annual hurricanes, this forecast wasn’t out of the norm. But this wasn’t just any other storm. It started to rain and didn’t stop. Even when it finally stopped, the floodwaters continued to rise—destroying everything in its path.
From August 11-13, this unnamed storm slowly crept through South Louisiana, dropping almost two feet of rain in East Baton Rouge Parish and nearby parishes. Watson, LA—about 20 miles northeast of Baton Rouge—received over 31 inches of rain from the storm. To put it into perspective, this storm system dumped three times as much rain on Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina and was enough rain to fill up Tiger Stadium 71 times. Receiving rain of this magnitude caused the rivers, tributaries, and creeks to swell, pushing flood water into thousands of homes and local businesses.
This “one in 1,000-year” event highlighted the vulnerability of our communities when it comes to stormwater management, land use practices, and community flood risk. If you’re like me, I have found myself repeatedly asking, how did this happen and what can be done to make sure that this never happens again?
Luckily, even before the Great Flood of 2016, organizations like the Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) have been committed to answering these tough questions. Following the flood, the CPEX team took immediate action and has continued to lead efforts to reduce flood risk. Here are just a few examples of their flood mitigation work since 2016:
CPEX jumped into action after the flood, coordinating with FEMA and advising state and local leadership on resilient recovery. CPEX collaborated with five of our hardest-hit communities to incorporate resilience strategies into their recovery plans, helping them to be better prepared for projected increases in future heavy rain events.
CPEX conducted Resilience Workshops in Lafayette and Baton Rouge to help local officials integrate resilience-building features into infrastructure plans and projects.
CPEX published the “Rising Above” policy papers to inform and support community leaders in flood recovery efforts and long-term resilience-building. The series highlights best planning practices and implementation tools that state and local leaders can use within Louisiana’s geographic, regulatory, political, and cultural context.
CPEX worked with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority as they prepared the 2017 Coastal Master Plan, which included flood risk mitigation recommendations.
CPEX worked closely with the governor’s office to design and facilitate a workshop for all cabinet-level officials and other state agency executives to tackle the challenge of adapting our governance model and practices to the threats posed by land loss and climate change. They learned how global changes to weather, flood risk and storm surge are already affecting Louisiana, from infrastructure to housing to public health.
CPEX, in partnership with the City of Gonzales, helped the Silverleaf Neighborhood complete a buy-out to escape flooding and move to higher ground.
CPEX co-authored the LA SAFE adaptation strategies – community-driven resilience plans for managing land loss, growing flood risk, and population shifts.
CPEX facilitates the Louisiana Watershed Initiative working group, focused on aligning state agencies toward a watershed-based approach to flood risk.
Partnering with state agencies, CPEX continues to work towards advancing the Adaptive Governance Initiative and Louisiana Watershed Initiative—coordinating resources and utilizing data in transformative ways to reduce risk, assess vulnerability, plan for climate adaptations, and manage our watersheds wisely.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of the coolest projects that I have come across since joining CPEX. It’s called the “Water You Gonna Do?” game. This game helps diverse stakeholders better understand the dynamics of watershed management by introducing players to the many tools available for managing stormwater, asking them to consider the consequences of decisions made, and demonstrating the need to work across jurisdictions to better manage stormwater and flood risk. It gives players an understanding of the pros and cons of various stormwater management and flood risk reduction decisions and encourages them to consider the potential for coordination across political boundaries to manage stormwater and flood risk. “Water You Gonna Do?” provides a fun opportunity to learn about and consider the use of a wide range of programs and policies available for stormwater management and flood risk reduction.
Just as it has since its inception in 2006, CPEX will continue to lead the charge when it comes to flood risk mitigation. Our state faces many challenges, and we hope that you will join us in our fight to ensure more resilient communities throughout the state.
About Landon Hester: Landon joined CPEX in 2021 as the Communications Manager to lead in creating and distributing multimedia content that elevates CPEX’s values and expertise and advances its mission. He firmly believes that effective communication can lead to meaningful change. Before starting with CPEX, Landon served as the Communications Coordinator for the Baton Rouge Bar Association. He has a background in non-profit communications and earned a master’s degree in Strategic Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Louisiana State University.