Coastal Community Forced to Relocate as Rising Seas Swallow Ancestral Home

Three years ago, the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indians of Louisiana's Isle de Jean Charles were forced to relocate as rising seas and climate-fueled storms consumed their ancestral homeland. The island, which once spanned over 22,000 acres, has now shrunk to just 320 acres due to erosion and land loss.

In 2016, Louisiana received $48.3 million in federal funding to relocate the 37 remaining residents of Isle de Jean Charles, marking the first fully government-funded relocation of an entire community. However, the new homes in Gray, Louisiana, dubbed "New Isle," have been plagued with issues, including leaks, malfunctioning appliances, and structural problems. Residents accuse state officials of rushing the relocation process and ignoring their input.

The relocation was intended to be a model for how the government could help coastal communities threatened by climate change, but it has instead become a cautionary tale. Louisiana, the state projected to have the most land impacted by coastal flooding, has no further plans to assist residents and businesses in moving away from the steadily eroding coastline. Nationwide, the U.S. lacks a cohesive strategy for relocating vulnerable coastal communities, and funding for such efforts remains limited.

As climate change continues to threaten more coastal areas, the challenges faced by the former residents of Isle de Jean Charles serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive, community-driven solutions to address this growing crisis.