Unmanaged Retreat: Inside America's First Federal Climate Relocation Attempt

In episode 240 of America Adapts , host Doug Parsons talks with reporter Terry Jones about the tangled story behind America's first federally funded climate relocation on Louisiana's Isle de Jean Charles . Once hailed as a model for how the nation could move entire communities out of harm's way, the project became mired in politics, confusion, and broken promises. Terry shares what he uncovered on the ground — from residents who never wanted to leave, to state officials unprepared for the task, to the bigger question of whether the U.S. is truly ready for managed retreat. This episode clears up the confusion, revealing what really happened, why it matters, and what the rest of the country can learn before the next community faces these climate impacts. Transcript for this episode here . Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here !

You can listen to Unmanaged Retreat: Inside America's First Federal Climate Relocation Attempt online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Unmanaged Retreat: Inside America's First Federal Climate Relocation Attempt is an episode from America Adapts - The Climate Change Podcast by Doug Parsons.

This episode is 35:27 long.

This episode was published on Nov 4, 2025.

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