Kezia Setyawan

Less than two weeks into the official start of summer, record-breaking heat has already swamped Louisiana and much of the South. And forecasters say the dangerous heat will likely continue.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we hear the second part of our latest episode of Sea Change, in which we hear from those working to preserve history in places where the land is disappearing. Plus, we interview gubernatorial candidate and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry.

Officials acknowledged that the affordable housing crisis has played a significant role in keeping people from getting back on their feet after Hurricane Ida.

What does it mean to keep a history alive when the place itself is disappearing? As climate change causes worsening storms and sea level rise, it’s not just people’s homes and businesses that are at risk of vanishing, but also the places that hold our past.We travel across Louisiana's coast meeting people who are working to prevent histories from being forgotten from a local African American museum to the country’s first permanent Filipino settlement. And later, we talk with experts about how they’ve navigated historic preservation in an era of climate change.

As Hurricane Ida recovery continues to move at a slow pace, state officials have sent yet another appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to extend the temporary housing program into 2024 and keep rent on temporary housing low for residents.

Two years after Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana’s coast, the catastrophic damage it caused to homes and infrastructure remains unrepaired in many parts of southeast Louisiana.Despite the slow progress, especially when it comes to home repairs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently notified residents that it will soon dramatically increase the cost of the temporary housing the agency has provided to those displaced by the storm.

Two decades ago, author Mike Tidwell spent months in Louisiana’s Bayou Country, meeting with Cajuns, Vietnamese immigrants and Native Americans who make up the cultural landscape of the region. As he immersed himself in the food, music and traditions of the community, the residents warned him that their culture was at risk of disappearing due to the environmental challenges the state was facing.

For nearly two years, the Chauvin Sculpture Garden’s dozens of folk art works have sat in the Chauvin park damaged and vandalized, mostly due to Hurricane Ida. But now, officials are finally making repairs to the beloved outdoor art space.

In a state known for its oil and gas industry, companies are looking at Louisiana to build up the country’s offshore wind industry infrastructure.

Living on the coast means living on the front lines of a rapidly changing planet. And as climate change transforms our coasts, that will transform our world.Every two weeks, we bring you stories that illuminate, inspire, and sometimes enrage, as we dive deep into the environmental issues facing coastal communities on the Gulf Coast and beyond. We have a lot to save, and we have a lot of solutions. It’s time to talk about a Sea Change.Based in New Orleans, Sea Change is a production of WWNO New Orleans Public Radio, WRKF Baton Rouge Public Radio, and PRX. Hosted by Carlyle Calhoun, Halle Parker, and Kezia Setyawan. Our theme song is by Jon Batiste.Available March 28, wherever you get your podcasts.