Fall

October 2023

From the President

Scott Burke

As we enter the fall season, we at the Southeast flood Protection Authority-West are staying focused on our mission: providing the best flood protection in history to the residents of the West Bank.

We have thankfully been able to follow hurricane developments from afar this season. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by the storms this year. We are still in the middle of hurricane season and SLFPA-W is ready.

We are fortunate to have a strong team working for you – great employees maintaining our systems and levees and an engaged board advocating for our residents.

New to our board is Commissioner William Fogle, who filled the board seat vacated by Commissioner Robert Thomas, who cycled off earlier this year. We are so thankful for Bobby’s contributions and we wish him all the best.

Bill, who once served as our interim regional director, is exceptionally qualified and has joined the board seamlessly. You can learn more about him later in this newsletter.

Together, we are continuing to move forward in our mission to protect the people and infrastructure of the West Bank.

From the Director

Nick Cali

Right now we are in the busiest part of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, with most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October. While we always stand at the ready, we are watching the Gulf especially closely and listening to our National Hurricane Center partners for any possible developments.

More than a dozen tropical or subtropical storms have formed this year, with Hurricane Idalia making landfall in Florida as a strong Category 3 storm before heading north. It’s a reminder of how damaging hurricanes can be and how we all need to be prepared.

We spent the summer maintaining our systems for peak performance, cutting a lot of grass in our jurisdiction and inspecting levees. In addition to their usual inspection duties, our crews have also been trained to recognize any signs that the low water level in the Mississippi River is impacting our assets. We are glad to report the levees and all of our systems are in excellent shape.

As we head into the fall, we continue our work to ensure the people of the West Bank are well protected, and we encourage all of our neighbors to recheck their plans should a storm threaten.

We want to meet you!

We would love to meet your organization and talk about how the system works and how we maintain it inside and outside of hurricane season to make sure it’s in peak condition.

Quarterly Wrap-Up

New Commissioner Sworn In

Ahead of the July Board of Commissioners meeting, SLFPA-W swore in new commissioner William Fogle. He replaces Robert Thomas, who served on the board for eight years before rotating off in June.

William brings familiarity with the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) from previous roles. He has experience on several large-scale restoration, architectural and construction projects for private and public sectors nationally and internationally.

“I am humbled to join SLFPA-W and look forward to using my experience in advancing flood protection for residents of the West Bank. I take this responsibility seriously and know I’m joining a team of dedicated professionals that is laser focused on their role of providing the West Bank with world class flood protection.”

International Reporters Tour West Closure Complex

In September, international reporters and photographers with Geo.TV Pakistan visited the West Closure Complex as part of a broader tour of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) and other flood protection infrastructure throughout southeast Louisiana.

The reporting, showcasing SLFPA-W global relevance, aims to share knowledge about U.S. water management and flood mitigation to find solutions for the severe flooding and its impact that the country of Pakistan is enduring.

Commissioner Robinson represents SLFPA-W in Washington, D.C.

Commissioner Robbie Robinson with Bubba Guesser, Chief Counsel for Sen. Kennedy, and Alphonse the Alligator.

SLFPA-W Commissioner Ronnie Robinson attended the Fall Meetings of the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association in Washington, D.C. in September.

During his trip, Robinson met with U.S. Representative Garet Graves and several legislative directors and policy advisers to discuss the SLFPA-W’s needs and concerns – especially funding for ongoing maintenance and operations in the Water Resources and Development Act of 2024 (WRDA).

Robbie poses with Congressman Garret Graves (left) and Dr. Robert Miller from the Mississippi River Commission (right).

Members of the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association.

Meet the Commissioner

William Fogle

William Fogle joined the Authority in July 2023.

The Pittsburg, Pa., native was drawn to New Orleans for work and family. Since moving, William started a service-disabled veteran-owned small business providing program, project, construction management and engineering services to clients in the U.S. and select foreign countries He is a certified construction manager (CCM) and a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

William takes his responsibility to the citizens of the West Bank seriously, and previously served as the interim regional director for SLFPA-W and as interim executive director for the Lake Borgne Basin Levee District for the East Bank flood control authority.

William holds a Master of Business Administration in business management from Jacksonville University and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering tech from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa.

We are hiring!

SLFPA-W has several job openings available. These vital positions help us maintain the levees, gates and pumps that protect the people of the West Bank. Learn more and join the team today!

Apply Now