In Holly Ridge, Louisiana, kids can’t play on their school playground. Families lose power without warning. Water runs rust-colored from the tap. And every day, dump trucks and 18-wheelers barrel down once-quiet country roads, bringing noise, danger, and destruction.

Why? Because Meta is building the world’s largest data center—just a mile from our homes and Holly Ridge Elementary School.

Since construction began, vehicle crashes in our area have spiked by over 600%. Some drivers don’t even have licenses. Children say the trucks shake their classrooms and make it impossible to learn. Parents are afraid to let their kids outside. Residents report construction trucks speeding, ignoring stop signs, and parking in their yards. Meanwhile, Entergy—our utility provider—keeps shutting off our power and claims it's not related. But we know better.

Meta and its contractors have bulldozed their way into this rural community without ensuring basic safety or respecting the people who already live here. The company says it wants to be a “good neighbor,” but so far, we’ve seen nothing but chaos, noise, and silence from those in charge.

We’re not against growth or jobs. But we are against putting lives at risk. We are against treating rural people as expendable. And we are demanding immediate action.

We call on Meta, Governor Jeff Landry, Entergy, and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to:

• Reroute heavy truck traffic away from Holly Ridge Elementary and residential neighborhoods.
• Enforce safety standards for all drivers and vehicles entering the Hyperion site.
• Fully investigate the cause of repeated power and water disruptions affecting local residents.
• Offer public meetings and compensation for those most impacted.

Our community deserves to be heard—and protected. Please sign and help us hold Meta and our elected officials accountable.

 Photo: Dylan Hawkins for the Gulf States Newsroom