In 2005, Plaquemines Parish was directly impacted by the eye of Hurricane Katrina, which brought Category-3 winds and storm surge to the parish at "the toe of the boot."
Four years later, construction and rebuilding are a daily part of life for residents, businesses and parish officials.
Parish President Billy Nungesser, Jr., says the parish has a long list of ongoing rebuilding projects in all parts of the area.
He says beyond rebuilding from the past storm, officials are also working to survive the next one.
"We plan to start our coastal plan and pumping river sediment next year, that will start that process of protecting Plaquemines from another storm like Katrina," Nungesser said.
Listen to Jay Vise's conversation with Nungesser:
Nungesser said that work to raise and fortify federal levees on the West Bank should begin early in 2010, and also said the parish is working to get the private East Bank levees rolled into the federal system of protection.
According to Nungesser, repairing the transportation corridors is also vital.
"With over 10,000 people a day going to work in Plaquemines Parish from others parishes, we've got to improve that infrastructure to get in and out of the parish safely," he said.
Nungesser said that construction is underway on all damaged or destroyed firehouses in the parish, and that several new fortified community centers have been built that can also double as shelters.
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