Areas of Baton Rouge that have historically been safe from flooding and are not located within flood zones (based on FEMA flood maps) have been flooded during recent storms. The clearing of wetlands in and around the city for commercial and residential development has removed important flood storage causing stormwater to back up into storm drains and bayous and then into people's homes. This repeated flooding is upending people's lives, disrupting every aspect of life in the city, and destroying home values. Developers are making money at the expense of Baton Rouge's homeowners and something needs to be done to stop it. 

The federal and state governments have regulatory agencies that are tasked with protecting people by reviewing new developments and determining what types of effects they may have on surrounding areas. Unfortunately these offices are often understaffed and unable to devote sufficient attention to each individual proposed project. As a result developers often impact more wetlands than they claim. This adds up and has resulted in the city's current flooding situation. 

Many cities in the Northeast have community specific wetland regulations that are more strict than state or federal standards. These regulations make sure that each individual project gets added attention and prevents the destruction of important natural resources that benefit the entire community by providing areas to store stormwater and prevent drainage from overloading. It is time that Baton Rouge establishes its own set of rules specifically aimed at protecting our natural resources. This will allow people in Baton Rouge to live their lives without the fear that the next storm will destroy their home or business.