Mission Flow

Coordinating Organizations + Structures for Response

Emergencies and disasters begin at the local level using all available Parish resources. When resources at the local level are overwhelmed, the Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP) requests assistance from other Parishes where there are agreements in place OR through the Intrastate Mutual Aid Compact (IMAC), which provides Parish-to-Parish mutual assistance.

Emergency Management Process

State resources are the next line of defense. When resources are not available at the local level, or additional resources are needed, requests for assistance are made to the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) through a web-based emergency management software system called WebEOC.

When State resources are overwhelmed or a particular need is not available through the State, the Governor can request assistance from other States through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).

If further assistance is needed, the Governor can request a Presidential Declaration of Emergency for the event, opening the door for Federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Incident Command System (ICS)

Incident Command System (ICS) provides flexibility and span of control to assign ESFs and other stakeholder resources according to their capabilities to augment and support the response and early stage of recovery. It is a systematic tool used for the command, control and coordination of emergency response. A flexible, scalable response organization, ICS provides a common framework within which people drawn from multiple agencies and disciplines, who do not routinely work together, can effectively work together during response and recovery from emergency or disaster events using standard response and operation guidelines.

The ICS standardized, on-scene, all hazards incident management approach allows for the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and communications operating within a common organizational structure. ICS enables a coordinated response among various jurisdictions and functional agencies, both public and private, and establishes common processes for planning and managing resources.

State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC)

The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is the command-and-control center for emergency response. Staffed with GOHSEP employees and State agency representatives, the functions of the SEOC ensure that necessary personnel and resources are available to appropriately respond to an event. The SEOC provides situational awareness to the Unified Command Group (UCG) – the decision-making mechanism for incident response – and coordinates timely assistance in support of local and State stakeholders during natural and manmade crises.

GOHSEP’s SEOC is located at 7667 Independence Blvd. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806.

Important Terms

Situation Report (SitRep)

A SitRep is used to provide updates on an unfolding situation and report critical “on the ground” situation information. SitReps are intended to assist GOHSEP personnel, local Parishes, State agencies and Federal partners in making informed decisions to preserve life, property and the environment in the event of a disaster or emergency.

WebEOC

WebEOC is an internet-based emergency information management application that provides operational details from various government and public safety groups in response to an imminent threat, emergency or disaster. It is the crisis information management system that provides real-time information sharing throughout the State.

WebEOC is used by GOHSEP, local Parishes and State and Federal agencies to monitor and manage activities before, during and after an incident. It can also be used during the planning, recovery and mitigation phases of any emergency.

Emergency Support Functions (ESFs)