Louisiana has been hit hard by disasters the last several years — the pandemic, hurricanes, tornadoes, deep freezes, historic flooding. Most reporting happens in the immediate aftermath of a storm, and information is often scattered across the internet. It is usually only in English, not reaching underserved areas, and confusing to navigate.
We are changing that—deepening connections with community partners and residents in south Louisiana year round. Together, we’re supporting work on the ground to ensure folks prepare well before a disaster strikes, and we’re committed to this place during the long journey to recovery.
resources for you
Disaster Glossary
Key terms and questions for before, during, and after a disaster.
Do you want to stay updated on disaster information and resources in south Louisiana? Join our texting list!
We’re working on this project with our partner The Current in Lafayette.
FILL OUT OUR SURVEY
How can media better serve the public during disasters?
We’re working on a project to assess the most urgent information needs around disaster aid in the U.S. South.
stories
The population of Lake Charles, La. shrank more than any U.S. city in 2020
New USPS data tells a story about climate change and displacement.
After hurricanes, it’s harder than ever for Lake Charles’ Black residents to cast a ballot
Louisiana officials and recovery groups have few answers about efforts to reach voters displaced by two back-to-back hurricanes during the pandemic.
‘Do I even qualify?’: Deadline looms for $500 FEMA aid following Ida
The deadline for Louisiana residents impacted by Hurricane Ida to apply for Critical Needs Assistance from FEMA is Wednesday, September 22. But applicants’ experiences have…
‘Communities shouldn’t have to rely on miracles’: A conversation with Samantha Montano
We sat down with the disaster researcher to discuss her forthcoming book, Disasterology: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis.
Q&A: Hurricane prep with the National Weather Service
Southerly talks to Janae Elkins in Jackson, Miss. about how to best prepare for hurricane season.
‘Real solutions to root issues’: Making hurricane recovery more equitable
Six months after Ida, a co-founder of the Louisiana Just Recovery Network reflects on the group’s effort to repair homes and train workers.
Louisiana’s new hurricane survivor sheltering program could be a model for the future
The Hurricane Ida Sheltering Program aims to create temporary options closer to home as residents navigate federal aid programs.
A year after Hurricane Laura, southwest Louisiana ‘still in limbo’
As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, multiple disasters in southwest Louisiana during the pandemic show how unequipped disaster aid systems are during…
‘Hurricane fatigue’: Gulf Coast emergency managers still rebuilding as they prep for more storms
Local officials are working to inform the public while still recovering from 2020’s record-breaking season—all on tight budgets.
‘People are wiped out’: Costs pile up as hurricane season begins
Hurricanes, a winter storm, and spring floods have left low-income Gulf Coast residents exhausted and cash strapped before this year’s season, with no significant aid…
Field Notes: How we reported our series on Hurricane Laura recovery
For seven months, Southerly has stayed on a story that received far too little media attention. Here’s how we did it.
‘It’s just a vicious cycle’: Evictions, homelessness surge in southwest Louisiana after hurricanes
A pre-existing housing crisis in Lake Charles, along with slow federal aid, have left some renters unhoused for nearly six months.
The slow road to getting vaccinated after back-to-back hurricanes
A state program aims to make COVID-19 vaccinations accessible to residents of southwest Louisiana, where vaccine rates are low and people are displaced.
How southwest Louisiana mobilized to shelter unhoused people during the winter storm
Six months after Hurricane Laura, Lake Charles is still in a state of disrepair. The deep freeze has slowed recovery even more.
Nobody warned Texans about the public health risks of the winter storm
Without advance warning about the true scale of power outages and the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, local officials say they were caught off guard,…
In Louisiana, hotel shelters wind down as COVID-19 and housing insecurity persist
This story was originally published by The Current. Pillows are in short supply at the Lafayette warehouse operated by the Acadiana Regional Coalition on Homelessness…