Engineering Resilience Against Disaster: The Community Engineering Corps and the Grand Caillou/ Dulac Band
Near the Gulf Coast in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, lies the Grand Caillou/ Dulac Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe. Due to their location, the Tribe has faced a multitude of natural disasters like hurricanes and floods. But amidst all of this chaos, a story of resilience is unfolding.
The community has teamed up with students from Purdue University’s Engineers Without Borders USA Chapter and the university’s EPICS program. In partnership with Building Humanity, and other partners from the private and non-profit sectors, they are collaborating to develop a community resilience center. More than just a building, the center will be a lifeline, serving as a sanctuary during crisis and a vibrant cultural hub in quieter times.
The devastation caused by Hurricane Ida exposed the community’s vulnerability. The storm destroyed homes, knocked out power, disrupted water supply, and stripped away vital community gathering spaces. To build resilience against future storms, they are now finalizing conceptual design plans and federal grant applications for a community center designed to withstand flooding and Category 4 hurricanes, complete with sustainable energy, water, and food systems in case of emergency. During fair weather conditions, the center will be equipped to serve the cultural needs of the community, providing the necessary space for elders to gather and socialize, and for them to pass cultural traditions on to younger members of the community. Without a space like this, the Tribe risks losing its cultural identity.
The Tribe has faced numerous challenges over the years, most notably that they are recognized as a tribal entity on the state level, but not the federal level. This makes applying for and receiving federal assistance typically available to tribal nations impossible. But now, thanks to the work completed in partnership with the Community Engineering Corps, the community stands poised to overcome these challenges. They’re in the process of applying for federal grant funding, which if approved will provide them with millions of dollars to construct and maintain the community center and allow the Tribe to invest in essential community programming like workforce development.
In the face of climate change and natural disasters, the Grand Caillou/ Dulac Band of Biloxi -Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe is proving that we are more powerful when we work through partnership, and that, together, we can engineer a brighter tomorrow.
