Mitigation, Response, and Recovery Measures to Prevent Flood in Louisiana

Unit IV case study
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Introduction
Introduction Sited on 51, 843 square miles of land, whose 8,277 miles bordering lagoons, the Mississippi river, and bayous, Louisiana is considered an extreme risk of floods. Over the years, the state has experienced catastrophic floods such as Hurricane Katrina of 2005, the Mississippi River floods of 1927 and 2011, and Hurricane Ida in 2021, occurring due to sub-tropical climate that produces heavy rains yearly, raising the sea level 14 inches (Louisiana, Flood Insurance, 2021). Louisiana has developed mitigation, response, and recovery measures to deal with this continued natural hazard risk.               Figure 1. Loisiana floods: One of the worst recent US disasters Mitigation, response, and recovery measures employed in response to floods in Louisiana. According to the State of Louisiana Hazard Mitigation Plan (nd, pp. 12-14), one of the mitigation measures was informing the public of the potential danger of floods and how to handle themselves. The community and the people took flood insurance coverage to caution them from the costly cost of damage by floods. Improving the drainage capacity within the state is another mitigation measure implemented through canals and laterals to facilitate easier drainage of water in the event of heavy rains. In responding to the flood disaster, the Louisiana governor and the leadership came up with a plan of action to deal with the floods if the water level goes above four feet in the Mississippi River. Radio and televisions advisories were issued to all persons living within the flood zone of the imminent danger of flooding; thus, vacate their homes and offices as soon as possible.  The government enumerated a host of safety measures to be observed, such as turning off all electronic devices, staying away from flooded roads and electric wires to avoid electrocution. An evacuation and transportation plan was implemented to rescue those caught up in the floods. Additionally, the resources necessary to deal with this disaster, such as human resources, emergency response personnel, shelters, medical care, transport, and food, were identified and made available (City of Covington, Louisiana, 2021, pp.4-5). Recovery efforts implemented include; recovery of the bodies of those killed in the floods and continued evacuation efforts of those still trapped by the waters. The city employed measures to drain the floodwater from the city and people’s homes. Those affected by the floods received financial assistance to help them start over. Additionally, the initiation of repair efforts to homes to reduce the demand for temporary shelter and transportation of residents with families outside of Louisiana to their destinations (Valcik & Tracy, 2017, pp.88-89). Individuals and groups who played roles in mitigation, response, and recovery efforts In mitigation efforts, the Louisiana governor and the Military Department Office of Emergency Preparedness developed the plan to improve the drainage system, allowing easy floodwater flow. The residents and private businesses took up insurance coverage against floods. The police and emergency responders instituted the evacuation order and helped people trapped by the water. The governor issued the warning and made available all the materials necessary. The national guard, emergency responders, fire services and paramedics, rescued, relocated, transported, and treated victims of the floods. The emergency responders carried out the recovery efforts and helped in the rebuilding. The city and its populace worked together to drain the floodwater and repair damaged amenities and homes. Figure 2. Louisiana guardsmen rescue thousands in floods. Air Force. The efforts by first responders, including the police, firefighters, the national guard, and emergency medical service personnel to rescue victims from the natural hazard of floods exposed them to various risks. The responders were vulnerable to death caused by being swept away by the floodwaters or from severe injuries. The team was also vulnerable to injuries, infections, and diseases brought on by exposure to water contaminated with biological or chemical contaminants and risky working conditions (Holcer, Jeličić, Bujević & Važanić, 2015).   The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 Figure 3. The Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927. National Museum of             African American History Culture.<...