South Louisiana stands at the forefront of the national disaster resilience and insurance crises. In just the last few years, hurricanes, floods, and high winds have caused nearly $100 billion in damage, roughly 40% of the state’s annual GDP. Across the U.S., storms like these cost $54 billion each year, and the burden continues to grow.
Led by the LSU Agricultural Center, DRI unites a diverse coalition of universities, state agencies, nonprofits and for-profit companies. This coalition represents a diverse set of knowledge and skills in risk modeling, civil engineering, community engagement and building sustainable business capital.
DRI is driven by the knowledge that South Louisiana is a critical region, both to our state and nation. The economic activity and rich history of the region motivates our partners to work to bridge knowledge gaps and address the greatest threat to the region.
Uniting a diverse coalition of universities, non-profits, state agencies and for-profit companies to reduce silos and move together towards disaster risk reduction solutions.
Working with partners to identify community needs, prioritize research, and turn these insights into measurable change.
Developing resources to train the next generation of resilience professionals, equipping them with the skills and tools needed to build stronger communities.
Catalyzing strategic investment across South Louisiana by aligning research, innovation, and funding to scale resilience solutions, support local economies, and build long-term capacity.