(10/02/24) BATON ROUGE, La. — The LaHouse Research and Education Center has been awarded $1.5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a software prototype aimed at reducing flood risk across Louisiana.

“We know that Louisiana is poised to lose billions of dollars by 2050 due to flooding,” said Carol Friedland, director of LaHouse. “This tool will empower communities across the state with data-driven insights, enabling them to make informed decisions that can significantly reduce flood-related damages and help safeguard our future.”

The project’s primary goal is to create a flood mitigation software prototype that will explore, simulate and evaluate current and future flood damage scenarios, providing communities with a comprehensive evaluation of potential building damage, infrastructure impact and occupant displacement in flood-prone areas. Friedland said this will enhance risk-informed communication, facilitate the development of actionable science-based solutions and support decision making for sustainable flood risk management.

Jeffery Giering, state hazard mitigation officer, called the software a much-needed tool in their toolbox.

“This will enable local officials and communities to deliberate and make meaningful and impactful decisions regarding flood risk and community reactions and responses,” Giering said.

Flooding is a threat to communities across the state. Charles Sutcliff, senior advisor for resilience at the National Wildlife Federation, said flooding carries enormous economic costs, damaging homes and infrastructure, depleting savings, widening inequalities and derailing plans for the future.

“Putting this user-friendly software tool into the hands of our communities will give them the power to make smarter decisions about where to build and how to build so that they can avoid or reduce their exposure to flooding,” Sutcliff said.

The project engages five Louisiana parishes — Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis — in developing flood risk mitigation strategies, ensuring equitable access to tools and involving local citizens in planning. This can enhance community preparedness and address challenges related to flood risk, social resilience and economic sustainability.

Michael Hollier, executive director of the Southwest Louisiana Regional Planning Commission, said while the project is being piloted in just five parishes, it can help others.

“It will inevitably provide others throughout the state the opportunity to develop mitigation plans based on real-world flood scenarios,” Hollier said. “Since we’re transitioning from 500-year flood events to 1,000-year flood events and their frequency, it’s time to figure out how to deal with it. We’ll do that by engaging businesses and residents throughout Southwest Louisiana on how best to prepare.”

The prototype will offer the ability to predict how different flood mitigation strategies might perform under various future climate conditions, helping communities to proactively address flood risks before they occur.

“This will be an invaluable resource for Louisiana’s communities as they work to create resilient, future-proof flood risk management plans,” added Friedland.

The project is funded through the NSF’s Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies (ReDDDoT) program. This project is in collaboration with LSU, engineering consultants CDM Smith and community partners and integrates climate science, engineering, policymaking and community engagement to propel forward our understanding and capabilities in flood risk reduction.

"We are proud to partner with LaHouse to support the development of this cutting-edge technology that will further resilient building practices in Southwest Louisiana,” said Sara Judson, president and CEO of Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana.

For more information on this project and LaHouse's ongoing efforts to enhance home and community resilience, visit www.LSUAgCenter.com/LaHouse.

A flooded home near Forked Island. LSU AgCenter file photo