Louisiana Parishes Plan to Buy Out Flood Prone Homes

Terrebonne Parish government has a $4 million grant it’s using to buy nine storm-damaged or flood-prone homes throughout the parish.

Lafourche Parish has a similar program, but only two households are participating.

Officials say that this program differs from FEMA purchase programs in that the parish isn’t required to keep and maintain land permanently.

Pat Gordon, Terrebonne’s planning director, tells The Courier the price, schedules and potential buyers have not been determined yet.

The purchased homes are in areas too low for pump stations to reliably keep dry. Homes below what Gordon calls “tail water elevation” are more susceptible to flooding.

The project’s purpose is to provide relief for impacted families.