Transcript:
In coastal southwest Louisiana, seas are rising, land is sinking, and hurricanes are intensifying.
So to help reduce the risk of flooding for homes in the region, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has offered to elevate up to about 1,000 eligible homes at no cost to homeowners.
But since the program launched three years ago, just a fraction of homeowners have opted in.
Allie Olsonoski of the Environmental Defense Fund helped run focus groups to learn how residents feel about the project.
Olsonoski: “Residents … were cautiously optimistic that this was an opportunity that they would be able to take advantage of, make themselves safer.”
But they have questions and concerns. For example, many want to know who will do the work, or want confirmation that insurance rates won’t go up.
And she says some people who felt abandoned by the government after past disasters are hesitant to put their faith in state or federal agencies.
Her group is sharing this feedback with the Army Corps so the agency can take steps to address people’s concerns.
Olsonoski: “There needs to be a concerted effort to build a presence, a relationship, and really trust in these communities before they will be comfortable opting in.”
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
