Across the nation, we are marking 10 years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita roared ashore, leaving a path of devastation in their wake and revealing serious environmental, economic and social vulnerabilities in the Gulf.From the continued disappearance of our coastal lines of defense to climate change-fueled sea level rise to oil and gas spills, our communities are still at risk a decade later. Take action and tell federal & state politicians to protect the Gulf’s coast and communities and hold industry accountable.After the storms in 2005, Gulf Restoration Network called on supporters like you to “Flood Washington” with messages calling for a federal commitment to rebuilding our coasts and communities – over 40,000 people responded. Politicians listened, taking action to shore up levee systems, close the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet which funneled storm surge into the New Orleans area, and develop plans to restore natural storm defenses like wetlands and barrier islands that protect our communities. But the job isn’t done. 10 years later, it’s time to once again “Flood Washington” and state politicians with the demand that they commit to protecting the Gulf’s coast and communities. Take action to protect the Gulf!Hurricane Katrina impacted communities across the Gulf, from Louisiana and Mississippi (where Katrina’s eye made its final landfall) to Alabama and Florida, and each area felt the storm’s wrath in different ways. However, all of our coastal communities need natural barriers like wetlands, barrier islands and sand dunes for protection when hurricanes come.Every 3-4 miles of wetlands reduces storm surge by one foot, but we’re rapidly losing our natural lines of defense due to development, oil and gas activities and other factors. In Louisiana, scientists estimate that 30-90% of the coastal land loss is related to oil, gas and navigation activities. Across the Gulf and the world, communities are also threatened by climate change-fueled rising seas and more frequent and powerful storms.As we commemorate 10 years since Katrina and Rita, we’re calling on our leaders to:Ensure that coastal restoration and storm protection plans have the funding they need to succeed;Hold the oil and gas industry financially accountable for its role in coastal land loss and for cleaning up spills and other accidents; andSupport efforts to curb the pollution that is fueling climate change, including the finalized Clean Power Plan that reduces carbon pollution from existing power plants and newly proposed rule to reduce methane pollution.Will you join us? Thanks for all you do!Raleigh Hoke is GRN’s Campaign Director.
