The historic New Orleans Lakefront Airport (KNEW), an art-deco gem situated in New Orleans East on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, serves as a hurricane evacuation center and aeromedical marshalling point for medical institutions and is in desperate need of flood protection. The Flood Protection Authority is seeking $200 million in the upcoming Federal Infrastructure Bill to fund this much needed project. 

KNEW serves as the point for Medical Institution Evacuation Plan (MIEP) for the transport of hospitalized and high-risk patients for Region 1. Before the landfall of Hurricane Katrina, over 2,000 citizens were evacuated from KNEW. Because the airport was totally unprotected, it was mostly destroyed and unable to jump into action so New Orleans could receive assistance from state and federal agencies. KNEW has since been revitalized but remains vulnerable. 

The project would provide protection for lifesaving hospital evacuations before a storm event and medivac patient relocations and organ transplants in high tide conditions. Additionally, the floodwall at KNEW would allow for new opportunities for economic growth and job creation in a community that is largely economically disadvantaged and underdeveloped located within the 2nd Congressional District. Over fifteen years later, we still flood. We cannot wait for the next storm. Something must be done.  We thank you in advance for your support.