I love it when I get to write our October newsletter because Halloween is one of my favorite times of year (just ask the giant skeleton in my yard). This year, however, it was hard to get into the spirit of the ghouls and witches, as the first time I sat down to write was on the eve of Hurricane Milton’s landfall, just two weeks after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida.
Louisiana is all too familiar with the devastation of the one-two punch of a deadly hurricane season; in fact, we’re less than a year away from the 20th anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Disasters like these are an important reminder of the work we have left to do to ensure our longevity here on the Gulf Coast, the vital importance of tools like the Coastal Master Plan and the power that nature has, not to just take things away, but also to build things back. Most importantly, it is a reminder to take care of each other, be good neighbors and be good stewards of our communities, cities, lands and waterways in which we live, work and recreate.
From Tampa to Asheville the road to recovery will be a long one for many and we will continue to share ways to help support our partners on the ground doing the good and informed work for the people most in need right now.
More below for this month’s very busy goings on – we have packed scheduled for national seafood month, coastal restoration updates and events and so much more.
Have a spooky and safe Halloween, |
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Sam Carter
Senior Outreach Manager, Gulf Program
National Wildlife Federation
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Constitutional Amendment 1 – Offshore Wind Resources
There’s an offshore wind amendment on your ballot this November, Louisianans!
Learn more about Constitutional Amendment 1 and Offshore Wind Energy
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The Mississippi River is Our Greatest Force for Building Land
Over the past several months, we have been hearing a lot of claims about the potential effects of one of the largest coastal and ecosystem restoration projects ever to be undertaken in the state of Louisiana and perhaps the nation – the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion. This project is a cornerstone of Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan and will build and maintain 13,000 acres over 50 years, despite rising seas, by reconnecting the Mississippi River to its wetlands.
There is too much at stake to make judgments based on inaccurate or misleading claims. Let’s set the record straight - Read more here.
Our website also houses a wealth of information on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, including project updates, ecological highlights, and a report showing the positive economic impacts of constructing this diversion.
Want to get involved in our work? Add your name here in support of our state's science-based coastal program, or email [email protected] to learn about more ways you can take action to protect and restore Louisiana's coast. |
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National Seafood Month
Celebrate Louisiana Seafood this National Seafood Month (and always!) with the Louisiana Seafood Passport. Support local fishermen by making sure you are supporting restaurants that serve local Louisiana and Gulf caught shrimp, oysters, fish and more. Get your passport “stamped” and redeem for an awesome tote bag – all of which you can do this weekend at Shrimp Fest!
The Louisiana Shrimp Festival/Shrimp Aid aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by our local shrimp and fishing industries while creating new economic opportunities for our coastal fishing communities and the broader regional seafood sector. With an urgent call to action of SOS: Save our Shrimpers, the festival will feature award-winning musical artists, food booths from top New Orleans restaurants and pop-ups, and a variety of kids’ activities.
In addition to the usual festivities, the inaugural Shrimp Aid will be held at the onsite pavilion. This event will bring together members of the shrimping community, local chefs, industry experts, and community representatives for panels, discussions, and documentary presentations.
The first Louisiana Shrimp Festival (LSF) will be held on Sunday October 20th, 2024, from 11 AM to 7 PM at The Broadside, located on Broad Street in New Orleans’ Mid-City neighborhood. |
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Dear Tampa Bay
See some familiar faces and learn more about climate change risks facing Tampa Bay in a short film made long before Hurricane’s Helene and Milton brought some of these fears to reality. The film, Dear Tampa Bay, shares personal stories from Gulf Coast community leaders in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi and explores how they are working to address the same climate impacts facing Florida, showcasing actions that could be applied to the Tampa Bay area.
The film was part of a project of the National Wildlife Federation that focused on the Tampa Bay area and analyzed how personal storytelling through film and expert-led field trips resonate and grow awareness of climate change risks and solutions. Read more about it here.
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Disaster and Mental Health Resources
Know someone applying for FEMA aid? Restore the Mississippi River Delta’s Science Coordinator Devon Parfait was featured in an article from EDF’s Vital Signs with a list of tips for applying for FEMA aid. Devon, who is also Chief of the Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw here in South Louisiana, put this list together with his tribe’s disaster case managers and with the United Cajun Navy. Learn more about how to navigate the often-confusing process of applying for disaster assistance here.
As many of us here in the Gulf South know, the stress of dealing with disasters can take a serious toll on our mental health. The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the first national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
The helpline is open to anyone experiencing emotional distress related to disasters. This includes survivors of disasters; loved ones of victims; first responders; rescue, recovery, and relief workers; clergy; and parents and caregivers. You may call for yourself or on behalf of someone else.
Connecting with nature in our daily lives has a powerful potential to heal. Read about how and why nature has mental health benefits in the articles below.
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