Seven clever ways to fight flooding in an increasingly wet world

By Sam Lubell

The American Red Cross has declared the recent floods near Baton Rouge, Louisiana—which have damaged more than 40,000 structures and left thousands homeless—the worst natural disaster in the United States since Hurricane Sandy. The state, which was infamously crippled by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, is no stranger to flooding, and officials have ramped up efforts to prevent water-related disasters since. The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s Comprehensive Plan for a Sustainable Coast, for instance, lays out new building guidelines and includes plans for over 100 flood-related infrastructure projects totaling $50 billion. With similar climate events happening much more frequently, and tides rising quickly, countries around the world are struggling to create new flood barriers and strategies. Here are some essential plans, in areas susceptible to flooding.