Liz Williams Russell Discusses Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments (LA SAFE)
Channel: eesionline
Date: 2020-01-29

Learn more here: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/110619lasafe

Liz Williams Russell, the Coastal Community Resilience Director for the Foundation for Louisiana, discusses Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments (LA SAFE), and how it is critically important to give a central place to community voices in planning projects.

LA SAFE addresses community resilience holistically by integrating risk planning with planning for stormwater management, housing, transportation, economic development, education, recreation, and culture.

Using a ground-breaking approach to community adaptation planning, LA SAFE, which is a collaboration between the Louisiana Office of Community Development and the Foundation for Louisiana, held 71 community meetings and engaged with over 3,000 people in coastal Louisiana. Together, the communities developed adaptation plans and voted on pilot projects, which jumpstarted the initiative’s implementation stage funded by federal Community Development Block Grants.