Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, Together Louisiana's Community Lighthouse strategy is being recognized as a national model for disaster preparedness. Bloomberg News highlighted the initiative for "strengthening the capacity of local communities to respond to emergencies."

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most catastrophic storms in U.S. history, displacing millions and leaving many in oppressive heat without power or clean water. One of those displaced was Bianchi Hughes, who was just nine years old when she and her mother fled to Mississippi. They had to leave her father behind at a hospital that later flooded and permanently shut down after its generators failed.

Now, Hughes serves as a leader and the director of disaster relief with Together Louisiana. 

“We’ve learned from Katrina and every event since then that the first responders are your neighbors,”

said Pierre Moses, technical lead for Community Lighthouse and President of 127 Energy.

In 2022, Together Louisiana and Together New Orleans began creating what is now the nation's largest network of solar and storage resilience hubs. Partnering with renewable energy providers, churches, and community centers, these "Community Lighthouses" use commercial-scale solar power and battery backup to provide essential aid during extended power outages.

As federal agencies face budget and staffing cuts, the need for local, organized mutual aid has become increasingly relevant. When Hurricane Francine hit in September 2024 and left 500,000 Louisianans without power, over a dozen lighthouses offered a place for residents to cool off, recharge devices, store essential medication, and coordinate community response.

[Photo Credit: Matthew Hinton, AP Photo]

In New Orleans, Katrina Taught a Lesson in Local Resilience, Bloomberg [pdf]