With significant investment being made in mitigation, demonstrating cost-effectiveness is crucial for continued support. Loss Avoidance Studies (LAS) quantify the losses avoided (also known as damage prevented or benefits) due to the implementation of the projects.
Three separate hurricanes affected the same area of Jefferson Parish between 2005- 2021. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, FEMA mitigation funds for $2.3 million were used to elevate 23 individual homes. After Hurricane Isaac in 2012, FEMA published a loss avoidance study. This original loss avoidance study has been updated after Hurricane Ida in 2021.