In 2005, the LaHouse — a University AgCenter educational outreach program showcasing energy-efficient and storm-resistant building alternatives for local homeowners and contractors — was in mid-construction.Then Katrina hit, and the need for home disaster protection became more urgent.Construction of the LaHouse, or Louisiana House, was completed July 9. Located on Gourrier Avenue next to the University Golf Course, the house itself is built to last. Able to withstand 130 mph winds, it is complete with impact-rated windows, hurricane straps and bolts, heavy-duty aluminum shutters, flood-resistant flooring, flood vents and even its own safe house that can resist winds up to 150 mph. “We were building to a fortified standard,” said Patricia Skinner, extension associate for the AgCenter and director of disaster resistance education at LaHouse.The LaHouse was not designed to shelter anybody, but rather to educate home builders and owners on how to step up their storm protection. Strategic exhibits and cutaways are located throughout the house, as well as AgCenter and LaHouse publications, safety checklists and a learning center.The learning center, which was actually constructed by University students, holds seminars for homeowners, training for realtors and continuing education classes for building contractors focusing on storm protection. Furthermore, the LaHouse is an educational resource for students from disaster management to wood science classes.”They can actually bring students over here,” Skinner said. “It’s an easy field trip.”Private donors funded the building. Eighty to 90 percent of the materials for the house were donated, and an interior design class at the University built the kitchen cabinets. Located on the University’s campus, anyone can visit the LaHouse during its open house hours — Wednesday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.”The main focus is for all citizens … the household is our primary customer,” said Claudette Reichel, LaHouse director. The LaHouse is not the only outreach program the AgCenter sponsors to educate local residents about disaster mitigation. It recently teamed up with Tulane, the University of New Orleans and the Road Home program to open the Rebuilding Information Station in New Orleans at UNO’s Research and Technology Park.”That’s where people can go to see demonstrations, participate in seminars and pick up literature,” said David Moore, another AgCenter extension associate specializing in hazard resistance. Aimed at rebuilding New Orleanians, the RIS also serves to educate locals on finance management, contractor selection, fraud aversion and new building codes.”Part of the new building code and wind-resistant construction is not just holding the house up, but holding it down,” said Skinner, who was actively involved in the Rebuilding Information Station.That’s why the LaHouse has its columns anchored to the ground.The LaHouse stands as proof to homeowners they need not sacrifice practicality and aesthetics for storm safety in their home design. From the outside, LaHouse looks like a typical country home. “LaHouse is about alternatives and helping homeowners make good choices,” Moore said. He pointed to some rustic shutters, appearing to be wooden, on an outside window and banged hard on them.”That’s actually heavy-duty aluminum,” he said.—-Contact Charles Schully at [email protected]