The goal is to help proactively avoid major flood damage, protecting residents and limiting how much the government has to spend on cleanup and rebuilding. But in some places, like Livingston Parish, local officials are struggling to find people to take advantage of the grants because of the high cost of doing the elevation work. “It’s sad. We reach out, we work with the local homeowners, and we try to get them to get on board,” said Mark Harrell, director of Livingston Parish Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. “They’re financially strapped, so you don’t get the amount (of applicants) that you want.”