Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Vietnamese community in Algiers, New Orleans, was among the first to return and begin rebuilding. However, two decades later, the area remains vulnerable to flooding, particularly during hurricane season, and is experiencing land subsidence.

Tap Bui, co-executive director of the Sông Community Development Corporation, noted that the community's reliance on paved streets contributes to drainage issues, as rainwater overwhelms the local pump station. In 2022, New Orleans received a $1.2 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program to address these challenges. The community had long sought to redevelop a six-acre site into the Hưng Đạo Heritage Garden, which would include a cultural center and urban farm, but lacked the necessary resources until the grant was secured.

The project aims to create a stormwater park capable of holding significant amounts of water, thereby alleviating pressure on the drainage system and potentially mitigating subsidence effects on local homes. However, the initiative faced setbacks when the Trump administration sought to dismantle FEMA, including the BRIC program, which was established to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience following Hurricane Katrina.

In 2020, the BRIC program was designed to fund various mitigation projects across the country, but its funding was halted under the Trump administration, leading to the cancellation of numerous grant applications, including those from New Orleans. Research indicates that investment in hazard mitigation can yield substantial future benefits, both in terms of lives saved and economic savings.

The shutdown of the BRIC program prompted legal challenges from state attorneys general, arguing that the administration's actions were unlawful and detrimental to community safety. A federal judge later issued an injunction against the administration's use of BRIC funds in unauthorized ways, emphasizing the importance of the program in addressing climate-related challenges.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the BRIC program, Bui's organization continues to engage the community in hazard mitigation efforts, including training on green infrastructure and water management strategies. However, the future of the broader project remains uncertain without continued federal support.