Public input sought on St. Mary's hazard mitigation plan

FRANKLIN — St. Mary Parish is once more working to get a handle on the risks posed by natural disasters and what can be done to reduce the damage.
The parish’s hazard mitigation plan will end its five-year life in September. Local officials on Tuesday began the effort to come up with a new five-year plan. And you can take part.
Go to https://lsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8nM8bI4mGcoAoAu to be part of a survey “about public perceptions and opinions regarding natural hazards in St. Mary Parish.”
The officials, meanwhile, will meet throughout the next few months to develop a plan to submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for approval. The parish and municipal governments must pass resolutions signing on the plan before it goes to FEMA.
Tuesday’s meeting was hosted by the St. Mary Parish Office of Homeland Security and conducted by Chris Rippetoe, program manager for hazard mitigation at the Stephenson Disaster Management Institute, headquartered at LSU. The institute is working with 59 Louisiana parishes to develop hazard mitigation plans.
After the meeting, Rippetoe described the need for the plan this way:
“The significance of the Hazard Mitigation Plan is really two-fold. First, it helps the parish and participating communities identify the most prevalent hazards in the area, understand the potential impacts to infrastructure and populations, and develop strategies to reduce those risks over time.
“In that sense, it serves as a roadmap for how the community can better protect itself from disasters under both current and future conditions.
“Second, the plan is also a FEMA requirement for communities that want to remain eligible for certain types of federal mitigation funding. Without an approved plan in place, the parish and its jurisdictions would not be able to apply for programs like the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) or Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA).
“So while the plan itself doesn’t require specific projects to be completed, it does provide the framework for identifying local risks and maintaining eligibility for funding that can help address them.”
Recent St. Mary Parish history illustrates risks both expected and unexpected.
Hurricane Barry struck in 2019, leaving portions of East St. Mary in the dark for a weekend. It also pushed the Atchafalaya briefly up to 10 feet at Morgan City, 4 feet above flood stage.
Hurricane Francine made landfall near Morgan City in September 2024, overwhelming the pump stations designed to force water out of the low-lying city.
Hurricane Ida caused only minor damage here, but the storm had an economic impact, too. East St. Mary became a refueling and resupply point for Terrebonne and Lafourche people without power, leading to gasoline lines and some empty store shelves.
More history shows how vital outside funding can be. The St. Mary Levee District oversaw completion of the Bayou Chene Flood Control Structure with $80 million in federal money to halt the back-flooding that has afflicted lower St. Martin when the Atchafalaya runs high. The structure provides protection for six parishes.
The district also oversaw work on the Bayou Teche Flood Control Structure, funded by the Department of Transportation and Development and designed to stop storm surge from coming up the Charenton Canal.
Another $12 million-$14 million from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is being used to upgrade Morgan City’s pump stations.
At Tuesday’s meeting, attendees threw out some risks that may not come quickly to mind here.
Like earthquakes.
The day before the meeting, four quakes, the largest a 4.0, were recorded in north Louisiana.
Others pointed to the threat of saltwater contamination of the Franklin and Baldwin water supplies during a 2024 drought.
Rippetoe urged the participants to think about risks and mitigation 20, 30 or 50 years ahead.
“You should think about not just what’s good for your community right now, but over the long term,” Rippetoe said.
He suggested they think of infrastructure improvements, regulations that may be unpopular but are a “way you can mitigate,” and education and outreach.
Planning ahead can reduce the economic disruption and recovery time associated with risk, Rippetoe said.
And risk reduction can save lives not just of residents but also for first responders who may be called out during floods or storms.