Congressman Ralph Abraham recognized by American Flood Coalition as a Federal Champion
Abraham calls for smart solutions to fight flooding and coastal erosion as storms continue to impact Louisiana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON, D.C., October 17, 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Flood Coalition has announced that Congressman Ralph Abraham (R-Louisiana) has joined its nonpartisan alliance to find proactive solutions to the challenges posed by flooding.
“In Louisiana, the threat of flooding is a reality that our citizens know all too well,” said Congressman Abraham. “There is much we can do to improve flood prevention from the federal level, including smart investments in flood control and drainage projects that provide community-wide and regional benefits to the homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure located near our coasts and waterways.”
Congressman Abraham is the 19th Federal Champion to join the American Flood Coalition – and the Coalition’s second Federal Champion from Louisiana. The Coalition has members across 13 states.
The lower Mississippi River reached record-breaking levels earlier this year, due to heavy rainfall across the midwest – including shattering a 1927 record for the longest duration of days in flood stage. In recent years, historic flooding and heavy rainfalls have had devastating impacts across northeast and central Louisiana. In March 2016, heavy rains brought over 23 inches of rain to Monroe and the Ouachita River in a five-day period, causing prolonged flooding and destruction. As a result, 36 parishes across Louisiana received a presidential disaster declaration – with cleanup efforts lasting months. Later that year, prolonged rainfall brought flooding to large swaths of central Louisiana and the Florida Parishes, dumping three times as much rain as Hurricane Katrina, and costing nearly $9 billion in damages to residential structures, agriculture, and businesses.
“Louisiana’s geography makes it uniquely prone to different types of flooding – creating a particular urgency for policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels to find coordinated, proactive solutions before disaster strikes,” said Melissa Roberts, Executive Director of the American Flood Coalition. “We’re grateful for Congressman Abraham’s leadership on this issue and excited to work with him on solutions that protect Louisiana families and communities.”
The American Flood Coalition is a nonpartisan group of cities, elected officials, military leaders, businesses, and civic groups that have come together to drive adaptation to the reality of higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding through national solutions that support flood-affected communities and protect our nation’s residents, economy, and military installations.
Cities, towns, elected officials, businesses, and local leaders wishing to join the American Flood Coalition or read more about the organization’s work can visit the Coalition’s website (www.floodcoalition.org) to find out more.
