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200 attend LaHouse hurricane housing event June 13

Linda Benedict

Pierce greets visitors

Margaret Pierce, right, greeted visitors to the LaHouse event on Hurricanes, Homes and Yards on June 13. (Photo by Linda Benedict) (Click on any photo to download a larger image.)

Adams and tank

Stewart Adams, a Ph.D. student in civil engineering, left, explained to visitors about soffits and shutters than can sustain high winds. Behind him is a water tank at LaHouse that will collect rain for re-use in the landscape. (Photo by Linda Benedict)

Pierce inside

Margaret Pierce, coordinator of LaHouse, center, takes visitors on a tour of the inside of the house. The computer display behind her was set up to demonstrate the new flood map Web site that can help people determine the flood surge and wind damage to their homes. (Photo by Linda Benedict)

Biodiesel and Carney

Bill Carney, left, coordinator of the Callegari Environmental Center, explains how to produce biodiesel from used vegetable oil during the LaHouse event. (Photo by Linda Benedict)

Gill and landscaping

Dan Gill, in front, tells the audience gathered at the LaHouse event on June 13 about landscaping concerns during hurricane season. The classroom in LaHouse is in the garage. (Photo by Linda Benedict)

Pierce and Wolcott

Margaret Pierce, coordinator of LaHouse, and Maurice Wolcott, extension specialist in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, were two of the experts giving presentations and tours at LaHouse on June 13. (Photo by Linda Benedict)

BATON ROUGE, La. – More than 200 people learned how to update their homes and make them safer during hurricane season at the Hurricanes, Homes and Yards event at the LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse on June 13.

LaHouse is an educational and demonstration center built as a residential home near the Alex Box Baseball Stadium on the LSU campus.

The educational sessions and tours at the June 13 event included a session on landscaping taught by LSU AgCenter extension horticulturist Dan Gill.

Gill said for landscaping that's hurricane-resistant, pick small tree species such as redbuds, dogwoods and crape myrtles for restricted spaces near structures. Leave the large open areas for planting oaks, sycamores, hackberries, sweet gums, pecans, poplars and other large species. And prune and take care of your trees all year long. Read more on landscaping for hurricanes:
Did a tree just fly by? Check yours long before storms come

Participants were given tours of the house and learned of the many different features of the house. For example, for high wind resistance, choose soffits and shutters for high wind resistance. Air conditioning units should be elevated to match the foundation. Hip roofs are more aerodynamic and inherently more resistant to uplift forces of high wind than gable end and other roof designs. Learn more about LaHouse. Read more about LaHouse building features:
LaHouse building features (Throughout)
LaHouse Building Systems and Features (West Wing)
LaHouse Building Systems and Features (East Wing)
LaHouse Building Systems and Features (Mid Section)
LaHouse Building Systems and Features (Garage)
Wind-resistant Roofs and Attachments

“LaHouse features multiple solutions to making homes safer from storm and flood damage,” said Margaret Pierce, LaHouse coordinator.

In addition, the June 13 event featured sessions on GPS mapping and determining the storm surge probabilities by address, making your own biodiesel from used vegetable oil, and wetland education programs for youth.

LaHouse is open for tours Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call LaHouse at 225-578-7913.

Linda Foster Benedict

6/14/2009 4:34:54 AM
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