The Calcasieu Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Steering Committee, at the direction of Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and with the support of the surrounding municipalities, is updating the Calcasieu Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan. There will be a third public meeting from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at the Emergency Operations Center, 901 Lakeshore Drive Building, second floor, Lake Charles.

Link to TEAMS meeting: 

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTdmMzZhZWEtNzdhNi00ODhhLTlmNWMtNGNhZGEzZGQ5OTY1%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22f1e50b3a-0e24-4ba1-a3d7-2bcf2538eea5%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22b4a0405f-d995-4bfb-90dd-ae00b6b27e67%22%7d.

Or call in (audio only): +1 504-603-3543,,455263018#   United States, New Orleans

Phone Conference ID: 455 263 018#

Calcasieu Parish is updating its hazard mitigation plan. These public meetings are being held so that all residents who are interested in learning about and participating in discussions concerning the Calcasieu Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan. 

The last plan update was completed in 2015, and there have been many efforts to reduce the flood and wind risks in the Parish. The purpose of the plan update is to identify new risks, the risks that remain, and pursue preventative measures that will reduce future damages from natural hazards. During this meeting, the Steering Committee will review draft plans and be provided with any additional updates. 

A copy of the current Hazard Mitigation Plan and all other materials that will be made available on the website will also be available in print at 901 Lakeshore Drive, fifth floor, for public review.

Please visit https://www.calcasieuparish.gov/services/planning-development/floodplain-and-coastal-zone-management/hazard-mitigation for more information.

Natural hazards have the potential to cause property loss, loss of life, economic hardship, and threats to public health and safety. Hazard mitigation is sustained actions taken to reduce long-term risk to life and property. There are things we do today to be more protected in the future. For example, elevating buildings in flood hazard areas, installing hurricane clips and storm shutters, relocating critical facilities out of hazard areas, using fire-resistant construction materials in wildfire hazard areas, etc. Hazard mitigation actions are essential to breaking the typical disaster cycle of damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. With careful selection, they can be long-term, cost-effective means of reducing risk and helping to create a more sustainable and disaster-resilient community .

A hazard mitigation plan describes an area’s vulnerability to the various natural hazards that are typically present, along with an array of actions and projects for reducing key risks. While natural disasters cannot be prevented from occurring, the continued implementation of mitigation strategies identified in the plan will gradually, but steadily, make our communities more sustainable and disaster-resilient.

The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) requires all states and local governments to have a hazard mitigation plan in order to be eligible to apply for certain types of federal hazard mitigation project grants. Hazard mitigation plans must be: (a) implemented on an ongoing basis, and (b) updated every five years to ensure that they remain applicable representations of local risk and locally-preferred risk reduction strategies.

Please direct questions about the meeting or process to Laurie Cormier at lcormier@calcasieuparish.gov or  (337) 721-3645.