Living in South Louisiana means living with perpetual hurricane risk and a set of environmental factors that increase Louisiana’s vulnerability to tropical storms and hurricanes. Our coastline is receding, much of the state’s land mass is subsiding and sea level is rising. This means the waters of the Gulf are getting closer to inland communities. The ground you build on today may well be noticeably lower 10 years from now, and when a future storm surge comes ashore, it will produce flooding that is deeper than that same surge would produce today. Adding to that, our levees have turned out to be a mixed blessing. While they reduce the frequency of flooding, they can produce a false sense of security—they can fail, they can be over-topped, and their internal drainage systems and pumps can be overrun by unusually heavy rains.

Within a period of three weeks in 2005, we saw the consequences of underestimating risks along the coast and behind levees where we build our homes. In truth, a secure home is not a sure bet anywhere, but it requires special effort in Louisiana, because the changing local conditions are not always captured in national hazard mapping. When you Build Safer Stronger Smarter, you build for the future—a home that will withstand the hurricane forces you’re likely to experience 10, 20 or 30 years from now.

As a homeowner, you can choose to raise the standards of protection for your home and reduce your vulnerability to hurricanes. Proven technology does exist. A number of organizations, Web sites and technical resources can help you become a more informed consumer—a homeowner who understands the benefits and knows what it takes to have a stronger and safer home.

Before your builder drives the first nail, Do It Right—accept that hurricanes are a reality of living in Louisiana. Get the Facts about the risks you face now, and recognize that those risks are increasing as our land subsides and our coastline recedes. Make the Choice and the commitment to strengthen your home to reduce these risks. Build Safer Stronger Smarter—get a licensed contractor and use protective measures that address the special challenges you face living in coastal Louisiana.