LaHouse Home & Landscape Resource Center

Great to see the LSU AgCenter and LaHouse well represented at the 2026 Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop, Researchers Meeting, and Practitioners Meeting.

Dr. Friedland and Dr. Mostafiz contributed to the panel “Durable Disaster Resilience: Lessons from a 20-Year Collaboration,” highlighting the long-standing Louisiana partnership with UNO-CHART, GOHSEP, and other collaborators.

Dr. Rahim presented on “Innovating Resilience: AI, Systems, and Strategies for a Changing Risk Landscape,” showcasing emerging agentic AI applications to support hazard planning and decision-making.

Tropical Storm Arthur is a good reminder to take a few simple preparedness steps.

As Louisiana sees rain, gusty winds, and possible flooding from this Gulf system, now is a great time to check in on your home and household plan.

✅ Stay weather aware and follow local updates
✅ Check your emergency supplies, including medications, flashlights, batteries, and pet items
✅ Charge phones and backup power banks
✅ Clear gutters, drains, and nearby debris where it is safe to do so
✅ Know your flood risk and avoid driving through standing water
✅ Take photos of your home and important documents for your records
✅ Move important items higher if your home is in a flood-prone area

Storm season is part of life in Louisiana, and being prepared helps families feel more confident and ready.

LaHouse has research-based resources to help Louisiana residents strengthen their homes, prepare for storms, and build resilience year-round.

Visit LaHouse for more resources:
https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/family_home/home/lahouse

Subscribe to the LaHouse newsletter:
https://bit.ly/LaHouseNews

Reminder! The Louisiana Fortified Homes Program (LFHP) lottery closes this Friday, June 19, at 5 p.m. It’s not too late to sign up. No matter when you register, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 of being chosen as someone who registered on day one.

𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 on funding to upgrade your roof to withstand hurricane-force winds!

𝗧𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽: Create or log into your profile at FortifyHomes.La.Gov.

Missed our latest newsletter? Catch up on what’s happening at LaHouse—program updates, events, and more. https://t.e2ma.net/message/xm9jlk/pwz8qmcc

Hurricane season starts today!

Sandra May, AgCenter nutritionist and registered dietitian, said when preparing for a hurricane, keep foods on hand that do not have to be refrigerated before or after opening, will not spoil over a period of a few days, require little to no preparation and can be prepared without electricity.

Carol Friedland, director of the AgCenter LaHouse Research and Education said to remember the letter “s” for home projects. She said to inspect shingles, soffits, seals, shutters and surroundings.

Preparation also means getting pets and livestock ready for a storm. AgCenter veterinarian Christine Navarre said animals should have vaccinations and a checkup if necessary.

🌟 Calling future leaders! 🌟
Are you ready to make a difference in your community this summer?
Join us at LaHouse Community Changemakers Camp, a hands-on experience where students build skills in resilience, leadership, and service.

📅 July 13th-16th, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Drop off begins at 8:30 | Pick up by 3:30)
📍 LaHouse – 3622 Gourrier Ave, Baton Rouge
👥 For students entering 7th–12th grade
💲 $75 (lunch included!)

From teamwork challenges to real-world problem solving, this camp is all about empowering youth to become community changemakers 🌎
✅ Spots are limited—register today! https://bit.ly/4wqAbMX
📩 Questions? [email protected]

🏠 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗙𝗘𝗗 𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗙 𝗟𝗢𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬!
Registration for the next round of the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP) is officially OPEN as of 8 a.m. today! We will be awarding up to 3,000 grants – each worth $10,000 – to help Louisiana homeowners upgrade their roofs to better withstand hurricane-force winds.

⚠️ 𝗡𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝗵: The registration window is open for three full weeks, closing at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19. Because participants are selected completely at random through a lottery, registering today gives you the exact same chance of being selected as registering on the very last day. Take your time to gather your documents!

📍 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀: This round includes expanded eligibility for several coastal areas, including brand-new access for Acadia, Jefferson Davis, and Lafayette parishes.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿:
🔸 Create a profile at FortifyHomes.La.Gov (or log into your existing one).
🔸 Upload your Homestead Exemption.
🔸 Upload your home insurance policy declarations page for wind coverage.
🔸 Upload your flood insurance declarations page if you live in a flood zone.

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆.

Register and learn more at FortifyHomes.La.Gov today!

https://ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes

Celebrating outstanding research impact! Big congratulations to Dr. Meggan Franks on receiving this well-deserved recognition from ARIS (Advancing Research Impact in Society).

Read more about her work:

Meggan Franks, Ph.D. - ARIS | Advancing Research Impact in Society ARIS | Advancing Research Impact in Society - Meggan Franks, Ph.D.

Claire Scott joined Acadia and St. Mary Parish 4-H Achievement Days to lead two hands-on favorites, the Wind Resilience Marshmallow Challenge and the Energy Efficiency Insulation Challenge! It's always a great time connecting with students and being part of such fun, engaging events. 🙂

Today, we celebrate 100,000 FORTIFIED designations, signaling 100,000 families who are better protected from severe weather. 🎉 This reflects a growing commitment to stronger, more resilient buildings – and communities. We’re proud to be part of the movement making homes and communities safer.