Ezra Boyd: Citizen. Scientist. Activist. Friend.

"Louisiana lost a great friend just before the Fourth of July when Ezra Boyd died. Ezra helped as many people and organizations as he had talents. He was a scientist with a political science degree included in the mix. He brought a heightened social awareness to the issues that he worked ranging from disaster preparation to response to recovery. He worked with public agencies, environmental groups, communities and individual citizens. His DisasterMap.Net provides real-time data that anyone caught in a disaster or who knows people who are caught in disasters can use to provide critical information. In the floods of August 2016, Ezra helped scores of people across south Louisiana find their way to safety or help guide them back home in those tortuous days after the rains stopped but flood waters remained. He brought static information to life combining his grasp of data and his skills as a cartographer and programmer. His passing leaves a void in our community that will be difficult to fill. He had so many skills which he used so well. This interview initially ran in April of this year. Ezra drove to Lafayette to be in the studio to record it. We knew each other for a few years. I had helped him with press releases about some of his projects. We considered each other friends. It was my honor to be considered his."