Will we have to experience two more major floods before we take action?
Dredge the Vermilion
Much like the August 2016 flood, the Vermilion experienced three MAJOR floods in the 1940s. As a result, some major projects were executed in the ’50s including dredging the Vermilion and the building the gates at Bayou Courtableau. These actions effectively protected our homes and communities for almost 65 years!
We had NO additional major floods for 65 years UNTIL the flood of 2016.
august 2016 flooding
government expenses
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Homes Significantly Damaged
Louisiana FEMA Flood Insurance, Grants, and Loans Payouts
Recap of the Flood of August 2016
• Teche-Vermilion Watershed had approximately 10,375+ Homes Flooded
• Louisiana had 84,900+ Homes Flooded
• Numerous Businesses either Flooded or Adversely Impacted
• Louisiana FEMA Flood Insurance, Grants, and Loans Payouts = $4.259 Billion
• Has lead to revised Flood Maps that will increase Flood Insurance Rates
Why are we flooding?
Learn about the various factors that impact our flood conditions.
Our project recommendations
Learn about actionable solutions proposed to reduce catastrophic flooding within Acadiana and the surrounding areas.
Take action now!
Ready to take action to protect our homes and businesses from catastrophic flooding?
Find out how you can make a difference!
We must have a sense of urgency
to resolve these problems!
If the Vermilion River was a heart attack patient, the doctor would be surprised it’s still alive!
This is the river at Perry, South of Abbeville. The authorized channel is colored in white. Shoals and shallows are in pink. You can see that the water is flowing as intended, and following our theme, you could say that this were the ideal heart patient. The doctor would give them a good bill of health.
This is the River at Milton. You can see that the authorized channel colored in white is much narrower and the shoals in pink are much more intensive.
If the river were a heart patient and the channel was his arteries, the doctor would be concerned with the blockage.
This is the river at Lafayette. You can see that the authorized channel colored in white is non-existent. The shoals in pink are completely blocking the river, acting like a dam.
Again, if the river was a heart patient and the channel was his arteries, the doctor would be surprised he was still alive with 100% blockage in his widow maker!
This is the River’s frequency of 12′ or greater flood events since January 1 2019. Note that we only had 11 of these floods between 1940 and 1980. This is the equivalent to the patient’s electrocardiogram history of heart attacks.
As you can see from the data available, we are experiencing a significant increase of flooding events, join us in our mission to reduce catastrophic flooding within Acadiana and the surrounding areas by educating yourself and those you know, and by donating today to help us to continue our work.
Latest News
Dredge the Vermilion Board Members join Bayou Vermilion District on Tour of River
July 23 2021 Several Dredge the Vermilion(DTV) Board Members joined several Bayou Vermilion District (BVD) Board Members and City Councilman Andy Naquin on a tour of River. The objective was to get a better look at the ongoing clearing and...
Dredge the Vermilion to Host Neighborhood Flood Meeting in Bendel Gardens
July 19 2021 As we are coming up on the 5th anniversary of the tragic August 2016 flood event Dredge the Vermilion (DTV) will be hosting a series of Neighborhood Flood Meetings in and around Lafayette. Dredge the Vermilion (DTV) will be Hosting a Neighborhood Flood...
LA DOTD Provides Funding for Engineering and Modeling Bayou Courtableau to Bayou Amy Flood Gate
June 28 2021 Courtableau and Opelousas LA Funding for engineering and modeling for a project identified by DTV in St. Landry Parish has been provided by the LA DOTD. The project will provide improved flood water management impacting a number of parishes as well as...
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Do your part to ensure a better future for Acadiana by giving what you can today. Whether it’s your time or your money, every little bit counts as we fight to prevent future catastrophic flooding!