As Aug. 29 approaches, we commemorate the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Isaac and the resiliency of our residents and businesses.

Although a difficult memory, hours after the hurricane’s landfall, over 6,000 homes and structures were flooded and more than 7,000 residents evacuated to safety. Significant damage to homes, vehicles and public structures occurred throughout the parish, but there were no deaths or serious injuries and we bore witness to the goodness of people in our community and volunteers from around the country.

For this we are forever grateful and are reminded of the power of people working together for a common purpose.

This experience inspired us to help each other and to share our lessons learned with our neighbors with similar flooding and to assist in their adaptation following such events.

Additionally, the strength of our leaders, faith-based community and neighbors shown through like never before as everyone joined in the recovery. We urge you to regenerate the greatness exhibited by our community and encourage you to re-engage in the actions and behaviors that propelled our community to serve as a model for recovery throughout the country.

The events of Aug. 29, 2012 were devastating.

However, in the midst of great tragedy comes great opportunity. Five years ago our community was in disarray. Today, we observe erection of new and renovated homes and business, new construction of commercial and public facilities and infrastructure improvements that were vastly needed for many years.

Funding has always been St. John’s Achilles’ heel, but the influx of federal funds, grants and financial support from our residents have allowed use to begin to tackle many of our deficiencies.

We acknowledge that oftentimes progress results in inconvenience, and we implore patience from our residents as construction occurs throughout the parish. Additionally, we ask for your assistance in dealing with one of the rainiest seasons of record.

According to the National Weather Service map, rain totals for 2017 through the month of August range from 60-80 inches parishwide, compared with rain totals for 2016 through December averaging 60-80 inches.

This type of weather is not only inconvenient, but it also burdens already taxed waste water and drainage systems that are highly dependent on gravity flow from the Mississippi River Levee to Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas.

St. John is not alone in our challenges with this type of weather occurring around the country. However, our commitment to continuing to make improvements throughout the parish remains strong. With everyone’s assistance, we will be successful.

We’ve come a long way since the events of August of 2012, but there is still a long way to go. Please join me in committing to making St. John the Baptist Parish the best that it can be.

Natalie Robottom is St. John the Baptist Parish President. She can be reached at communications@stjohn-la.gov.