The Governor's Office of
Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP),
with the help of the
Louisiana State University
Agricultural Center, has
scheduled a briefing
regarding the on-going
update of the State of
Louisiana Hazard Mitigation
Plan. The briefing is
scheduled
for
Thursday, February 28, 2008
from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm CST.
The briefing will be
conducted by GOHSEP via the
LSU AgCenter video
teleconference system and
will include an overview of
the Plan Update, followed by
an opportunity for questions
and comments. The briefing
will include a discussion of
proposed efforts to
implement key
recommendations contained in
the
Plan Update.
What is Hazard
Mitigation Planning?
Hazard mitigation
planning is a process by
which states or
localities identify the
hazards they face from
natural and manmade
hazards and plan for the
best ways to reduce or
eliminate the resulting
risk to life, property,
and economic continuity.
Pursuant to the Federal
Disaster Mitigation Act
of 2000, all states must
have a hazard mitigation
plan approved by FEMA in
order to remain eligible
for many forms of
federal pre- and
post-disaster
assistance. The Act also
requires that state
hazard mitigation plans
be updated every three
years; Louisiana’s
current plan was
approved in April, 2005.
What does the Plan
Update include?
The Plan Update
focuses the resources of
GOHSEP and other state
agencies to improve
education and outreach
about hazards and the
opportunities available
to mitigate the risk
faced by residents and
property owners in the
State. The Plan Update
also recommends
improvements to the way
information about risk
and hazard mitigation is
shared between the state
and communities and used
to identify and
implement projects to
reduce the risk faced by
Louisiana. In addition,
the Plan Update places a
priority on
implementation of hazard
mitigation projects that
address the problem of
repetitively flooded
properties in the State
as well as protection
for critical facilities
and infrastructure.
Is the Plan Update
available for review?
The Final Draft Plan
Update is available for
download on the GOHSEP
website at [insert URL].
Comments may be
submitted by email to
bcooper@ohsep.louisiana.gov,
or by post to Brenda
Cooper, GOHSEP, 415
North 15th.
Street, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana 70802 to be
included in the Final
Plan that will be
adopted by the Governor
and approved by FEMA,
the deadline for
receiving comments is
February 29, 2008. At
the
video-teleconference,
opportunities for
continuing involvement
in the implementation of
the Plan Update will be
identified.
Download plan update
Who should attend?
This briefing is
intended for officials
and staff of
municipalities,
parishes, the State,
eligible private
non-profit
organizations, and
tribal nations. Invitees
include parish and
municipal OHSEP
officials, floodplain
administrators, building
officials and state
facility managers;
positions with
responsibilities that
are already contributing
to hazard mitigation in
the State. However, all
interested parties are
encouraged to
participate.
 |
Register
here to ensure
adequate space
is available.
|
Locations: The
briefing will be given
statewide using the LSU
AgCenter Video
Conference facilities.
The session will
originate in Efferson
Hall on the LSU campus;
participation will be
available at nine remote
sites. Please
register to
participate at the site
most convenient for
you.
Participation Locations:
· Alexandria:
Dean Lee Research
Station
· Baton
Rouge: LSU, 214 Efferson
Hall
· Bossier
City:
Red River Research
Station
· Calhoun:
Calhoun Research Station
· Crowley:
Acadia Extension Office
· Houma:
Terrebonne Parish
Library
· Lake
Charles: Calcasieu
Extension Office
· Mandeville:
St. Tammany Extension
Office
· Metairie:
Jefferson Extension
Office
·
Winnsboro: Scott
Research Station
Registration:
To register and receive
directions to the
Participation Locations,
visit the
Louisiana Floods website
at:
www2.lsuagcenter.com/lafloods/shmp_update_2008/
