‘The Next Storm Surge’ focus of Tri-parish public forums

Hurricane season is here and that means a precautionary six months for residents of the Tri-parish area, who are eyeing what might happen in the Gulf of Mexico.

To help increase awareness about hurricane vulnerability in the Tri-parish area, several experts from the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant will conduct public talks titled “The Next Storm Surge” over the next few weeks at public libraries in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.

The presentation will be held both during the day and in the evening to accommodate those in the workforce, said Regina Lauland, spokesman for the Lafourche Parish Public Library system.

Lafourche Parish had its first forum last week. The other two forums are scheduled for Aug. 14 at the Lockport Public Library starting at 1 p.m., and at the South Lafourche Public Library in Cut Off beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Terrebonne Parish’s forum is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 21 at the Terrebonne Parish Public Library Main Branch on Civic Center Boulevard.

The experts will discuss the “what if” scenarios of hurricane season using computer surge models to illustrate what might happen should a storm similar to Hurricane Rita make landfall close to the Tri-parish area.

Also, staff from the AgCenter will be on hand to discuss disaster recovery and a mitigation group will provide residents with information on building more flood, wind and rain-resistant homes.

“The best way to explain it is to call it an educational program that analyzes the potential risks of a hurricane storm surge in your area,” said Ron Kron, spokesman for Louisiana Sea Grant. “Experts will demonstrate how much damage could have occurred if the storm surge was greater and what might happen in future storms.”

Thomas Hymel, a Sea Grant marine extension agent was instrumental in creating the data that will be used at the public forums. He initially started creating the maps after the 2005 storms for St. Mary, Iberia and Vermilion parishes as a way the parishes to look at the agricultural damage caused by Hurricane Rita.

This is the first program of its kind in Lafourche and Terrebonne. Hymel said the data collected is all new stuff for the parishes. He used satellite images and geographical information to develop a 6-by-6 foot aerial map of each parish.

“It shows land loss progression, elevations in the parish, how far inland the water can get and how deep some areas can flood depending on the type of storm surge that comes in,” he said. “The is one of the more popular exhibits because people get a clear view of the parish.”

For several months after the forums, the maps will be left at the libraries for residents to view at their convenience, and Hymel also will load basic GIS software data onto the library’s Web sites displaying the aerial maps.

For more information, call Lauland at (985) 446-1163 or Kron at (225) 578-6564.

The destruction seen in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward could just as easily have been experienced anywhere along the coast had Hurricane Katrina’s path altered, experts with the Louisiana Sea Grant warn. * Photo courtesy of LA SEA GRANT