EDITORIAL: Local people will benefit from state program

April 22--Several local projects will be among 10 that have been approved in six southeastern Louisiana parishes.

The work is being planned under Louisiana's Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments -- or LA SAFE. The overall effort is a great way of looking forward to the coastal changes that are surely coming to our area and doing what we can to prepare for them.

"We believe LA SAFE represents a crucial step forward in cementing Louisiana's place on the cutting edge in resilience-building activities," Gov. John Bel Edwards said in announcing the projects . "Although our Coastal Master Plan is the country's preeminent effort to reduce future land loss and coastal flood risk, LA SAFE has taken the next step in illuminating a path forward for how our communities develop future housing, economic, social and transportation needs to withstand future disasters and adapt to environmental changes over time. In an age of heightened risk, now is the time to start addressing the needs of our communities."

The local projects will include buying out Terrebonne Parish property owners outside the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane-protection system and beginning an emerging business incubator in Lafourche Parish.

The specifics of the plans, of course, will be where planning for the future begins to affect local people's lives in the present. In some of those instances, people will face difficult, emotional decisions. But this approach is much better than simply leaving everyone in south Louisiana with no direction and no alternatives until it is too late to help.

We know that our land is sinking, the water is rising and our coast is eroding. We know that there will be less land in the coming decades and that the land that's left will become increasingly vulnerable to storm surge and other natural events.

It would be irresponsible to simply ignore the problem. It isn't going away.

LA SAFE is carrying with it $40 million to spread over 10 projects in six parishes. That is a significant investment in making what are unfortunately necessary preparations.

Our state faces a challenge that hasn't yet been met anywhere else in the nation. We will have to lead the way in discovering how best to fight the changes we will face.

LA SAFE is a good indication that Louisiana is doing just that. And the fact that local people will be able to benefit from this program is a bonus that should pay dividends into the future.

Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper, not of any individual.

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