Messaging Louisiana: Deepwater Horizon Spill at Day 365

As we approach the one year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon spill the media spotlight will once again shine its hot, bright light on Louisiana. Soon enough, Governor Jindal and others will be tasked with explaining where Louisiana is now, 365-days after the spill, as well as what lessons we’ve learned since April 20, 2010.

Here’s my message for the outside world if anyone cares enough to ask.

1. First and foremost, we’re the toughest people you’ll ever know. Battered, bruised, scarred and abused. We’ve taken the worst of what Mother Nature and our fellow man can throw at us and we’re still standing. We’ve been through far worse and we’ve come out stronger for it.

2. Despite the constant drum beat of gloom and doom from many on the outside (who were exceedingly quick—almost eager in some quarters- to prophesy the worst), there are no signs that our Gulf eco-systems or seafood have been destroyed. Clearly, the jury is still out on the future and in some cases the first harvests may have been smaller than in the past but available signs in the here and now point to a hopeful scenario for the future (Like our people, our marine life and eco-systems are far stronger than others think possible). The message: the seafood is great—healthy and plentiful. Grab a fork.

3. This wasn’t another Katrina or Rita. It didn’t cripple our state or permanently wreck our economy. And we don’t have our hands out and we don’t want your sympathy or a government bail- out. Don’t visit New Orleans and Cajun Country because we need you or because you feel sorry for us. Come because we’re America’s most interesting state and you can do and see things here you can’t find anywhere else. And because we have “go” cups.

4. We understand that there are risks that go with carrying such a large burden of the nation’s energy production. We know that’s a blessing and a curse and that we can’t take one without the other. However, we’ve also come to understand and in fact, insist that the companies that operate in our backyard have to play by the rules.

5. Don’t penalize our state or America’s domestic energy supply by slapping the oil and gas industry with moratoriums on drilling new wells. Try better oversight of relevant federal agencies instead and punish those who won’t follow the rules. Everyone reading this blog is doing so because the Gulf of Mexico is a critical asset. We all suffer under an unnecessary moratorium. Until alternative sources of energy are more viable and plentiful, this is your reality and ours.

6. Finally, a message for those of us who live here. Stop whining. Stop acting like victims hit with one insult after another. We don’t need America’s sympathy and we should stop acting like we’re expecting it. Work hard. Work smart. Create. Improvise and cut your own path like we’ve always done. If you need bucking up, see point one above.