Louisiana State University’s coastal meteorology program is a newly established and rapidly growing undergraduate track designed to train students in risk assessment, decision-making, and observational and operational meteorology within a coastal hazard context. Developed in partnership with practitioners and agencies, the program emphasizes applied training aligned with workforce needs in one of the most hazard-prone regions in the United States.

The seminar also includes an overview of the updated national technical standard from the American Society of Civil Engineers – ASCE/SEI 24 Flood Resistant Design and Construction, with emphasis on updated elevation requirements. The discussion focuses on how minimum elevation provisions are developed within the standard. The presentation traces the pathway from engineering standard to model code, highlighting the role of elevation criteria in improving building performance in flood-prone areas.

Together, the presenters illustrate how integrated education, science, and engineering standards improve how natural hazard risk is defined, communicated, and reduced in vulnerable coastal communities.