Louisiana receives many hurricanes, tropical storms, and severe weather as a coastal region on the Gulf of Mexico. This, combined with the low land level, the vast amount of wetlands, and floodplains, leads to an increased risk of flooding and storm surge flash flooding. The rainfall rate in Louisiana has increased within the past few decades. According to a rainfall study at Louisiana State University, the storms are shorter but are depositing rain faster, thereby increasing the risk and rate of flash flooding. The state also experiences a risk of flooding coming from the river delta systems, rainfall, inland storm surge flooding, and tidal wave and storm surge flooding.
COASTAL FLOODING AND HURRICANES
Louisiana has miles of coastal floodplains, wetlands, deltas, and waterways. When storm surges, hurricanes, heavy rainfall, and wind hit the land, these low-lying areas can easily be overwhelmed with floodwaters. Louisiana's water levels often rise when storms make landfall in a neighboring state. Every parish or county in Louisiana has experienced a significant weather event. Storm surges and flooding are the most dangerous aspects of hurricanes and coastal storms for Louisiana. The rapid rising of water is the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in Louisiana.
Hurricane Katrina was the most drastic and extreme example of how storm surges can overwhelm the region. However, hurricanes do not need to reach the magnitude of Katrina to endanger residents and cause large amounts of damage. As most recently seen in Hurricane Ida, there can be loss of life and billions of dollars of property damage from the effects of hurricanes, coastal storms, and flooding in Louisiana.
Here is a list of hurricanes that have harmed Louisiana:
Hurricane Katrina, August 2005
Hurricane Rita, September 2005
Hurricane Humberto, September 2007
Hurricane Gustav, August 2008
Hurricane Ike, September 2008
Hurricane Ida, November 2009
Hurricane Isaac, August 2012
Hurricane Harvey, August 2017
Hurricane Nate, October 2017
Hurricane Barry, July 2019
Hurricane Marco, August 2020
Hurricane Laura, August 2020
Hurricane Delta, October 2020
Hurricane Zeta, October 2020
Hurricane Ida, August 29, 2021
CAN FLOODING IN LOUISIANA BE PREVENTED LONG-TERM?
The state of Louisiana proposed a Coastal Master Plan in 2012. The Plan was updated in 2017 and will be updated again in 2023.
Some examples of attempted or proposed solutions are:
Construction and improvement of water management systems
Developing communities on high ground
Redirecting 100-year flood paths or plains away from populated areas with levees and water management systems
Most solutions aim to prevent the loss of life and property damage from flooding water and storms, not stop the storms or flooding. The goal is to better contain or redirect the floodwaters in the future.
GREENUP INDUSTRIES’ ROLE IN FORTIFYING AND BUILDING LEVEES
Greenup Industries works on a variety of industrial projects in multiple markets. Greenup's work continues on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) West Shore Lake Ponchartrain Levee stockpile projects and anticipates completing one project this summer. The West Shore Lake Ponchartrain Project will build and help fortify levees for storm protection.
Greenup's primary operations have been excavating, processing, and stockpiling clay in two areas within the Bonnet Carre Spillway. The company was awarded two contracts for stockpiling clay, a 20 million contract in January 2020 and the second contract for 17.9 million in November 2020.
The West Shore Lake Pontchartrain project is located in southeast Louisiana on the east bank of the Mississippi River in St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James Parishes in Southeast LA. The 760 million dollar project will span 18.5 miles, including 17.5 miles of levee, 1 mile of T-wall, four pumping stations, two drainage structures, and approximately 35 utility relocations. The structure will span from the Bonnet Carre Spillway to the Mississippi River Levee near Garyville and provide storm surge protection and improved resilience on the western shores of Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas. Construction of the project is funded through a state and federal cost-share, the feds will cover 65% of the project, and the state will perform work - design and construction - valued at their 35% share of the total project cost.
Greenup Industries reports that the company's work on the two contracts is progressing well. Greenup's primary role in the project has been excavating, processing, and stockpiling clay into two stockpiles inside the Bonnet Carre Spillway. The clay will be used to construct 17.5 miles of a levee system that offers a 100-year level risk reduction to the area between the Bonnet Carre spillway and Garyville. Greenup will have removed 1.5 million cubic yards of clay from the Spillway by the end of the project.
"We are honored to be part of the project that provides much-needed flood protection for the River Region. This project will provide peace of mind for the residents and business, especially with the increased number of named storms," Rodney Greenup, CEO of Greenup Industries. In early August, the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center increased the number of named storms they first predicted back in May. The original outlook had 13-20 named storms expected for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. The mid-season update states that the season is expected to have 15-21 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater). Of the 15-21 named storms, they predict that 7-10 will be hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), of which 3-5 could become major hurricanes (category 3, 4, or 5 with winds 111 mph or greater).
The West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane Protection project is a joint effort of CPRA and the New Orleans District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Pontchartrain Levee District, and St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James parishes. Construction of the project is being funded through a 65 percent federal 35 percent local cost share.
Greenup Industries is also involved in the Lafourche Basin Levee District Project, known as Upper Barataria Risk Reduction, a $1.6 Billion levee project that Greenup has been working on for four years with the Levee Board. They also received $8M in design funding that Greenup was instrumental in securing.
About Greenup Industries
Based in Kenner, Greenup Industries offers contracting and specialized construction services for industrial, commercial, and municipal clients. The company's proprietary software, the Greenup Tracker, can connect third-party vendors with facilities that need painters, plumbers, groundskeepers, carpenters, etc.
If you would like more information on this project, please contact Greenup Industries at 225.283.4843 or info@greenupind.com.
Rodney Greenup
Greenup Industries
+1 225-383-4843