SHREVEPORT, La. – Caddo Parish is set to establish a network of self-sufficient disaster relief shelters as part of the Community Lighthouse Project. This initiative will bring three neighborhoods onto a solar microgrid and include the installation of wells at all three locations to ensure a continuous supply of water.
The primary aim of this project is to mitigate power outage-related fatalities. The Highland Center, Morningstar Baptist Church, and Willow Chute Missionary Baptist Church will serve as hosts for these crucial lighthouses.
Theron Jackson, a key proponent of the project, explained, “Our strategy is for institutions to take a key role in building social infrastructure in our city, block by block. Our goal is to prevent isolation-related deaths, and we’re committed to ensuring that no one suffers in silence.”
The lighthouses will operate on the principle of the three C’s:
- Canvassing: Identifying residents in need of priority assistance within the neighborhoods.
- Calling: Establishing a call list to reach out to these individuals during times of disaster.
- Caring: Providing support and assistance to the affected residents within the neighborhoods when disaster strikes.
This community-focused project is designed to enhance disaster preparedness and response, fostering resilience and support within Caddo Parish.
