Relocation to Restoration

CCC partners with Buy-In Community Planning for a community-led relocation planning and habitat restoration in the Mississippi Sound project.

Residents of the Cherokee Forest subdivision in Pascagoula, MS, face significant health and environmental risks due to their location in a flood zone and proximity to industrial polluters. This area, home to approximately 120 households, is adjacent to major facilities such as the Chevron Refinery, Enterprise gas processing plant, Gulf LNG, Bollinger, and the Mississippi Phosphates Superfund site.

“We have a house we can’t live in, we have a house we can’t rent, and we have a house we can’t sell.” ~Barbara Weckesser, CCC Founder

A 2021 ProPublica study highlighted that residents are exposed to cancer-causing air pollution at levels 2 to 3 times above EPA standards, leading to chronic respiratory issues for 90% of the community. Over the past decade, there have been at least 40 reported cancer cases, along with 27 deaths from heart and lung diseases and cancer, unrelated to COVID-19. The risk is compounded by potential industrial accidents, particularly in light of severe and worsening weather events, including the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

In response to these challenges, CCC partnered with Buy-In Community Planning to explore voluntary buyout programs for residents wishing to relocate. In March 2024, Buy-In secured a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support this community-driven planning process. The project seeks to develop a plan to acquire high-risk properties from willing owners and restore these areas into native Gulf Coast habitats. This ecosystem restoration will enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and create a protective ecological buffer against hurricanes, sea-level rise, and the ongoing pollution from Bayou Casotte Industrial Park.

A recent survey indicated that 90% of Cherokee Forest residents are either interested in a buyout or seek more information about it, with 74% expressing a desire to relocate as soon as possible. Many residents view their situation as urgent, emphasizing the need for a swift and effective strategy to ensure safety and environmental health for themselves and other residents of East Pascagoula.

Word cloud made from responses to the following survey question: Is there anything you want us to share with government agencies regarding your concerns about a potential buyout of Cherokee Subdivision?

Buy-In takes a holistic approach to buyout programs, addressing the people, housing, and land — Who wants to move? Where will they go? What happens to the land that gets left behind?

Though many residents of Cherokee Forest are ready to move now, community leaders report being excited about planning for what happens to the land they leave behind. Residents can relocate out of harms way while also reducing health and safety risks for nearby neighborhoods and improving the climate resiliency of the entire city of Pascagoula. 

"We care about all of our neighbors and want to leave knowing that they too will be better off for it." ~ Karla Hopson

The planning phase is expected to be complete by March 2026. CCC and Buy-in are consulting with a diverse team of experts to develop a robust for relocation and restoration. Community workshops are planned for the summer 2025. For more information about this project, please contact Jennifer Crosslin at jennifer@betterbuyout.com