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Keeping Levees First: Who's Running Our Flood Protection?

Thu Nov 5, 2026 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM CST Pan-American Life Building, 70130

Keeping Levees First: Who's Running Our Flood Protection?

Thu Nov 5, 2026 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM CST Pan-American Life Building, 70130

We don't have a region without flood protection.

Hundreds of miles of levees, floodwalls, floodgates and pumps stand between your front door and the water. On the east bank, one agency runs all of it: the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East. After Katrina, New Orleanians fought to put that agency in the hands of experts focused on a single job, which is keeping us safe from flooding.

Twenty years later, that promise is being tested. Since the governor gained direct control of the agency's leadership, it has replaced its board, lost key engineers, sharply expanded its police force, and drawn scrutiny from the public, the Legislature, and the state attorney general. Is this needed reform or a drift from the agency's mission?

Join us for BGR's fall Breakfast Briefing to hear from the people at the center of the debate and ask your own questions.

Featuring:

  • Blair duQuesnay, Chair, Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans
  • Senator Kirk Talbot, Louisiana State Senator for District 10
  • L. Jeff Williams, Regional Director, Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - East
  • Moderated by Rebecca Mowbray, President & CEO, BGR

Can't make it? Sign up for the livestream and we'll send you the link before the event.


Doors open at 7:30 a.m. | Discussion begins at 8 a.m. | Coffee and light breakfast provided

This event is FREE thanks to sponsorship by:

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Address

First Horizon Bank Atrium

601 Poydras Street, 20th Floor

Located in the Pan-American Life Building

Parking

The Pan-American Life Building parking garage entrance is on Camp Street. It is Premium Parking Garage # P376.

Pay for parking on the Premium Parking app or at the kiosk located inside the building, by Starbucks, right outside the elevators. Parking on Level 2 is permitted for non-permit parking.

Paid street parking is also available.

Location

Pan-American Life Building, 70130