LAPLACE — Louisiana residents have heard a lot about coastal erosion and the warning that the state loses a football field of its coast per day.

Most residents have no idea what that truly means, nor what it means for their particular community.

To help give residents a better idea and to help communities plan for the inevitable losses, Louisiana’s Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments, LA SAFE, is hosting a public meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the St. John the Baptist Parish Community Center, 2900 U.S. 51 in LaPlace.

It is free and open to the public. Dinner will be served. Anyone in need of transportation and/or child care services may call 225-772-1372.

Thursday’s meeting will give St. John the Baptist Parish residents a chance to discuss the best ways the parish can adapt to the threat of continuing coastal land loss, consider adequate response and set goals for moving forward.

The LA SAFE team will give brief presentations pertaining to St. John Parish, followed by a discussion session.

“The LA Safe planning program represents a great opportunity for the residents of St. John the Baptist Parish to come together and guide the future of our community,” said St. John Parish President Natalie Robottom. “This planning process has the potential of positioning our parish for growth in areas with higher ground, reduced risks and fewer vulnerabilities. I encourage our residents to attend public meetings throughout the process and share their ideas about the future growth of our Parish.”

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the launch of the citizen-led planning effort last week as a chance for residents to be active participants in the shaping of their communities’ future in response to the changing coastline.

St. John is one of the six parishes eligible for Housing and Urban Development resources because of continuing recovery efforts form Hurricane Isaac in 2012, in partnership with the Foundation for Louisiana,

Public meetings also will be held in Lafourche, Terrebonne, Plaquemine, Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes, which together account for nearly 21 percent of Louisiana’s population.

“The people of Louisiana are resilient by nature,” Edwards said in the announcement. “They will always rise to meet any challenge. Today, I am calling on them to become involved in LA SAFE so we can be certain the rich traditions and boundless opportunities of our coast are preserved for generations to come. Every voice, every idea, is important.”

LA SAFE was created in response to the coastal crisis in Louisiana and is designed to give residents information and resources on how to adapt to the changes and increase understanding of coastal issues.