FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August
27, 2006
CONTACT: Mark C. Smith PHONE:
(225) 925-7427
Public Information Officer FAX:
(225) 925-7501
Gohsep increases activation
level at
the state emergency operations
center
BATON ROUGE, La. - In response
to Hurricane Ernesto, the
Governor’s Office of Homeland
Security and Emergency
Preparedness (GOHSEP) will
increase the activation level at
the State Emergency Operations
Center today at 2 p.m.
The increased level of
activation requires GOHSEP to
staff the EOC 24 hours a day
with agency employees and
emergency managers from multiple
state agencies. The Pre-Storm
Evacuation and Transportation
Branch staff from various state
agencies are added to the GOHSEP
staff as the state continues
preparatory actions should
Hurricane Ernesto threaten
Louisiana.
At the direction of Governor
Blanco, GOHSEP continues to
issue advisories and hold
conferences calls with state
agencies and our federal
partners to coordinate assets.
While the storm remains distant,
the state is prepared to
increase mobilization quickly.
Many efforts have been
undertaken over the past six
months to ensure the state’s
preparedness including the
pre-staging of food, water, ice,
generators and other vital
commodities.
Governor Blanco asks citizens to
be prepared in the event the
storm threatens Louisiana.
Citizens should have a copy of
the Louisiana Citizen Awareness
and Disaster Evacuation Guide.
They should study the guide and
plan their evacuation route
carefully, have disaster
supplies prepared and monitor
the media for official
announcements. Citizens need to
have a plan and know what to do
if this storm becomes a threat
to the state.
