To protect communities from coastal flooding, we must take a “multiple lines of defense” approach. Thus, in addition to ecosystem restoration and structural projects, the CPRA recommends a comprehensive nonstructural program as part of the strategy to reduce flood risk for Louisiana citizens. Nonstructural projects include elevating buildings, floodproofing commercial structures, and voluntary acquisition. Through modeling done for the Coastal Master Plan, CPRA determines which regions of the coast will still experience storm surge flood risk after the implementation of ecosystem and structural protection projects. These remaining regions are then considered for nonstructural projects. The implementation of nonstructural activities can be carried out by local or state governments who can take a building-by-building approach to these projects. They can be funded directly by CPRA or by other state and federal programs offered through the Office of Community Development, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, or the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Nonstructural Risk Reduction Projects in the 2023 Coastal Master Plan

Several nonstructural risk reduction project types have been evaluated for use on residential buildings, including single-family, multi-family, and manufactured homes, as well as non-residential buildings, including commercial, industrial, and institutional structures.

Floodproofing of non-residential structures is recommended in areas with projected 100-year flood depths of 3 feet or less so they can be resistant to flood damage.

Elevation of residential structures is recommended for properties with a projected 100-year flood depth of between 3 and 14 feet so that their first-floor elevation is higher than projected flood depths.

Voluntary Acquisition of residential structures (without the use of eminent domain) is recommended in areas where projected 100-year flood depths make elevation or floodproofing infeasible and where residential structures would need to be elevated higher than 14 feet.

Residents can view their community’s anticipated land change, flood risk and impacts with the CPRA Master Plan Data Viewer. This online tool provides residents with access to the state’s best information about how Louisiana’s coast may change in the future, as well as resources to make communities and properties safer. Information includes future land change, storm surge flood risk, coastal vegetation, and more. Also included are detailed factsheets on the state’s proposed restoration, structural protection, and nonstructural risk reduction projects to help make communities safer.


View your flood risk in 50 years without the Coastal Master Plan on the Master Plan Viewer

Points of Contact

CPRA and Governor’s Office

MRD Contact