HOUMA, La. — Louisiana's largest Indigenous tribe, the United Houma Nation, was awarded $56.5 million in federal grant funding to implement parts of a five-phase plan to deal with climate change and make the state's coast more resilient.
United Houma Nation was awarded as part of "$59.8 million total awarded to Louisiana projects to make the state’s coast more resilient to climate and other coastal hazards," the release said.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was granted the funding through a competitive grant program funded under the Inflation Reduction Act. The U.S. Department of Commerce also funded the grant.
For the next five years, UHN will carry out four phases of the plan. The Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan includes:
Phase 1: Enhance the central community resilience hub, the current UHN administration building
Phase 2: Establish and enhance satellite community resilience hubs in each of the six service area parishes
Phase 3: Strengthen and expand communications
Phase 4 is focused on building capacity for economic development and is not funded under this award.
The final phase is exploring community-led migration strategies for those experiencing land loss and increased storm activity.
“This is an exciting day for the Houma people,” said UHN Principal Chief Lora Ann Chaisson. “The development of this hazard mitigation plan will benefit our tribal citizens for generations to come. Thank you to NOAA and our partners for helping us to make this vision a reality.”
The federal grant will serve UNH including residents in Lafourche, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Mary, St. Bernard, and Terrebonne parishes.
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