A perfect storm

One of the reasons our wetlands are so important, of course, is that they provide hurricane protection. They are part of the multiple lines of defense for our coastal communities, which include densely populated cities such as New Orleans, Lafayette and Houma. (Other components of the multiple lines of defense include elevated homes, evacuation routes and strategies, and flood control infrastructure such as levees and pumping stations.) We’ve already had a brush with tropical weather once this season (link to a news story about Cristobal), and we urge you to remain vigilant and to have a plan in case you have to evacuate.

Of course, everything is complicated this year by COVID-19. Our communications and marketing director, James Karst, recently spoke with KPLC-TV in Lake Charles for their hurricane season special and discussed how the pandemic has affected our coastal restoration efforts.