Louisiana is no stranger to the wrath of Mother Nature – hurricanes, flooding, and coastal erosion have long plagued our communities, leaving us to adapt and rebuild time and time again. However, this past summer, Louisiana faced an unexpected and unprecedented threat: wildfires, fueled by extreme heat, strong winds, a high-pressure heat dome, and one of the most severe droughts in our recorded history.
Wildfires have blazed across parts of the southern U.S. in recent months from Texas to Alabama, fueled by downed trees and plant debris left over from storms such as Laura, Delta, and Ida. In Louisiana, more than 60,000 acres burned across 17 parishes, forcing evacuations, destroying crops, and sending buildings up in smoke. It barely rained in the month of August, leading to a state-wide burn ban as first responders and the Louisiana National Guard struggled to contain the fires.
The impacts to our agricultural sector in particular are devastating. Agriculture plays a crucial role in Louisiana’s economy and food security. The wildfires and droughts this summer caused widespread damage to crops and livestock and disrupted the livelihoods of countless farmers. These losses have far-reaching consequences, affecting the availability and affordability of food for our communities.
In a regular year, our annual precipitation makes us one of the wettest states in the country – but in an era of climate change, it’s becoming clear that climate-amplified disasters will not be limited to the well-known culprits. A proactive, planning-based approach to ensure the well-being of our communities is more necessary than ever as we look back on an unusual summer and prepare for a changing future.
The devastation in Beauregard Parish this summer hit especially close to home, as I watched news reports of nursing homes in DeRidder being forced to evacuate from the Tiger Island fire – the largest wildfire ever recorded in our state’s history. My parents still live in that area, and they were on my mind as they too stood ready to evacuate at a moment's notice. As life-long Louisiana residents, we have faced the prospect of weather-related disaster many times – but watching family members repeatedly weather Louisiana’s ongoing cycle of disaster and recovery gets harder every year. It’s not just my family, though; thousands of Louisiana families found themselves in similar situations, facing not only material losses, but also the profound mental health effects of the constant threat of disaster.
As people across our state faced wildfires instead of hurricanes this summer, I thought about what “resilience” means for our friends, family and neighbors. Louisianians are rightly celebrated for their incredible resilience and ability to pull themselves and others through disaster events, but we can’t continue to subject our people to these traumas. We must recognize that true resilience involves adapting our infrastructure, practices, and policies to meaningfully mitigate the impacts of disaster so that individuals and communities do not have to endure hardship and loss time and time again. By implementing comprehensive disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies, we can reduce the physical, mental, and environmental stress that our communities endure.
Louisiana's unique vulnerability to climate-amplified disasters demands a proactive and planning-driven approach. This means investing in disaster-resistant infrastructure, implementing sustainable land use practices, and fostering community engagement and education on climate adaptation. It means developing strategies that safeguard not only our physical environment but also our mental well-being. It’s past time for us to move beyond the cycle of reacting to emergencies and accelerate our efforts to plan and prepare for a future that is increasingly uncertain.
The City of Gonzales has taken a significant stride by becoming the second city in Louisiana to establish its own community-driven climate action plan. Gonzales is setting a commendable example and has embarked on this journey towards climate resilience, aiming to synchronize its endeavors with Louisiana's Climate Action Plan. Their goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40-50% by 2030 and ultimately achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Gonzales is doing their part to ensure that their residents as well as our state are prepared for future climate impacts, and we look forward to seeing other communities follow their lead.
Together, we can chart a path towards a more resilient Louisiana, where our traditions, culture, and way of life endure the test of time, regardless of the challenges that come our way.
PHOTO FROM: U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE