Louisiana's Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast: A Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005

摘要

The State of Louisiana has responded aggressively to the twin disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in August and September of 2005. The loss of over 1,000 lives, destruction and damage to tens of billions of dollars worth of public and private property, and the devastation of small coastal communities and major metropolitan areas, was a crystallizing event prompting the development of an ambitious vision to reduce the consequences of the inevitable future catastrophic hurricanes. The Master Plan has received three prestigious awards: a First Place Gulf Guardian Award (Government Category) from the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Gulf of Mexico Program in 2007; the President's Award for Environmental Excellence from the National Association of Environmental Professionals in 2008; and the 2008 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Renewable Natural Resources Foundation.