Louisiana is a high-risk State for emergency events and disasters. In addition to numerous natural disasters – hurricanes, floods, high winds and others – that threaten our State, we are home to critical supply routes and energy production resources that are attractive targets for man-made disruptions.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) was created by an act of the Louisiana Legislature – Louisiana Revised Statute (LRS) Title 29:725, the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act (Louisiana Disaster Act). We are the agency responsible for coordinating the State’s efforts throughout the emergency management cycle to prepare for, prevent where possible, respond to, recover from and mitigate against to lessen the effects of man-made or natural disasters that threaten our State.

The Director of GOHSEP is appointed by the Governor as the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR) for all disasters and acts on behalf of the Governor in the event of an emergency or disaster. 

The Director of GOHSEP is also appointed by the Governor as the State’s Homeland Security Advisor (HSA) for all homeland security related matters.

State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC)

Louisiana’s Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) – a state-of-the-art command and control center – is operated within and staffed by GOHSEP. The State’s response during an emergency or disaster is managed through the SEOC. When activated, the SEOC serves as a central operations center for emergency response.

The SEOC serves as the state Multi Agency Coordination Center (MACC) in order to coordinate and synchronize state agency and federal agency response to all incidents.

Mission + Vision

The State, through GOHSEP, has a significant responsibility to protect communities, citizens, property and assets in the event of an emergency or disaster. We do that by working with partners from State and Federal agencies; Parish, Tribal and local governments; nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); private nonprofits (PNPs) and other private-sector businesses to achieve its Mission and Vision.

Grants Coordination

Federal grants are awarded to the State for a variety of purposes. Non-disaster related grants – also called preparedness grants – help the State build capacity so that it is better able to respond to and recover from an emergency or disaster. Disaster-related grants are enabled by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Management Act (Stafford Act) and provide funding for response, recovery and Mitigation efforts as a direct result of an emergency or disaster.

GOHSEP is also a gateway for grants and technical assistance to other State agencies, local authorities and eligible nonprofits (those providing critical governmental type services). We help those entities identify, get and keep Federal assistance through preparedness or post-disaster grants awarded to GOHSEP (Grantee) and sub-granted to others (subgrantee or sub recipient). As the Grantee receiving Federal grant funds, GOHSEP administers Federal grants, subgrants and programs, helping to ensure Louisiana subgrant recipients are in compliance with Federal requirements.

GOHSEP is organized around five (5) focus areas: Prepare – Prevent – Respond – Recover – Mitigate and comprised of the Executive Office and  five (5) divisions:

• Grants and Administration
• Emergency Management
• Homeland Security and Interoperability
• Public Assistance
• Hazard Mitigation Assistance

 

Excellence in Emergency Management

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACCREDITATION PROGRAM (EMAP)   Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) is the only accreditation process for emergency management programs. GOHSEP was originally accredited in 2007 and reaccredited in 2012 and 2018.  EMAP recognizes the ability of State and local governments to bring together personnel, resources and communications from a variety of agencies and organizations in prepare for and in response to an emergency, and to measure those capabilities.