SWLA VOAD

05/13/2026

Southwest Louisiana VOAD is proud to celebrate Louisiana VOAD receiving the National VOAD Innovative Program of the Year Award during last week’s National VOAD Conference.

We are especially proud that our very own Ashley Norman, Southwest Louisiana VOAD Coordinator, was part of the Louisiana VOAD team present to receive this national recognition.

The award recognizes Louisiana VOAD’s support for the development of the resource mapping and federal assistance tools launched by VIA LINK in 2025. These tools are helping strengthen disaster coordination and improve access to critical information for organizations and communities across Louisiana.

This recognition reflects the collaboration and dedication of VOAD partners throughout the state who work tirelessly before, during, and after disasters. We are honored to see Southwest Louisiana represented as part of this important work and excited to continue building stronger partnerships and more effective disaster response efforts for the communities we serve.

04/30/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for today’s 2026 SWLA VOAD Meeting. Your presence, collaboration, and commitment to serving Southwest Louisiana truly make a difference.

We are incredibly grateful for your continued support and for being a part of SWLA VOAD. It is through partnerships like these that we are able to strengthen our community, coordinate more effectively, and respond when it matters most.

We appreciate each of you and look forward to the work ahead, together. 💙

01/24/2026

❄️ Cold Weather Resources for SWLA ❄️

As temperatures drop, warming centers and shelters are available across Southwest Louisiana to help keep our community safe. Please see the graphic for locations, hours, and capacity information.

If you or someone you know needs assistance, more information and additional resources are available by calling 2-1-1, 24/7.

Please share this post to help spread the word and check on neighbors, seniors, and those experiencing homelessness.

💙 Stay warm. Stay safe.

12/11/2025

SWLA VOAD is proud to announce that our VOAD Coordinator, Ashley Norman, has been appointed to the Louisiana VOAD Board of Directors.

Ashley will represent Southwest Louisiana at the state level, supporting stronger coordination, communication, and collaboration across Louisiana’s disaster-response network. Her experience, commitment to community resilience, and leadership within SWLA VOAD make her an invaluable addition to the statewide board.

We are excited for this opportunity and for the knowledge and partnerships she will bring back to benefit our region.

Congratulations, Ashley!
Southwest Louisiana is well represented.

We are excited to share that Ashley Norman, our Director of Marketing & Communications and SWLA VOAD Coordinator, has been appointed to the Louisiana VOAD Board of Directors.

Ashley has been a driving force in supporting disaster readiness, strengthening community partnerships, and elevating the work of SWLA VOAD. Her leadership and dedication have helped ensure our region is better prepared, better connected, and better supported when emergencies arise.

Please join us in congratulating Ashley as she brings Southwest Louisiana’s voice, needs, and strengths to the statewide table.

07/31/2025

In the hours before sunrise on 4 July, more than 10 inches of rain fell on Kerr County, Texas, USA. By some estimates, it added up to 100 billion gallons of water, more than the daily flow of water over Niagara Falls. The torrential downpour caused the Guadalupe River to rise 36 feet, killing at lea...