[StBernard] EDITORIAL: Planning key for recovery

[Westley Annis]

The Advocate Expresses Support for LA Speaks, Cites LRA's Efforts to Plan for Long-Term Recovery

BATON ROUGE, La. (April 5, 2007)-- An editorial in yesterday's edition of the Baton Rouge Advocate underscored the importance of planning to Louisiana's recovery and cited the Louisiana Recovery Authority's efforts to engage citizens in the development of a regional plan that will guide long-term recovery and growth over the next 50 years.

According to the April 4th editorial:

"If Louisiana is to recover and grow after the impact of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, our communities must embrace more-comprehensive and far-reaching plans for the future than they have in the past. 

Not only must the state and the federal government provide billions of dollars for levees and coastal restoration - an absolute must - but our communities must be willing to look ahead and say "no" to urban development that exposes homes and businesses to hurricanes and floods of the future."

To see the entire editorial, click here: http://www.2theadvocate.com/opinion/6855637.html <http://keelson.eatel.net/websites/la.gov/action.cfm?md=communication&task=addClick&msg_ID=3629&ID=d%26ileAi%7EnXn0&redirect=http://www.2theadvocate.com/opinion/6855637.html> . 

Spanning parishes from the Texas to Mississippi border (including the Houma/ Thibodaux, New Orleans, North Shore, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles metro areas), the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan will provide the framework for local and parish plans to thrive in and serve as a guide for South Louisiana's long-term recovery and future growth. The plan will be complete in May 2007.


Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses and inflicting about $25 billion in insured losses. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana.

Louisiana Speaks is a long-term planning initiative of the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) that is supported with private funds provided through the LRA Support Foundation. The Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX), which was created to serve as a resource for residents, community organizations, developers and elected officials to provide information on best practices for planning and urban design, also provides support and management for the Louisiana Speaks initiative. 

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