New Orleans Officials Get Hurricane Preparedness Training
"We are always looking for ways to strengthen our relationships with the local agencies we serve," said GOHSEP Director Jim Waskom. "A full evacuation of New Orleans involves several agencies and several moving parts. It is important to test those types of activities before you face an actual emergency."
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the city's executive leadership completed a two-day hurricane training exercise on May 31 that was hosted by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and took place at the Joint Emergency Services Training Center in Zachary. GOHSEP and the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management brought together leaders from city and state key response and recovery departments to discuss pre-landfall activity and post-storm recovery efforts, if a major hurricane impacts the region.
The city's news release said the training covered policy, contracting, evacuation, damage assessment, security, and re-entry. Ahead of the June 1 start of hurricane season, this training gave participants an opportunity to discuss capabilities and reaffirm the region's storm readiness.
"Being prepared for an emergency means having the training and the systems in place for seamless collaboration between our state and local partners, and exercises like this training session are the best way to make that happen," Cantrell said. "Advance preparation is crucial to the success of any response operation. I'm grateful to GOHSEP for hosting the event and proud of our first responders for the hard work that went into making it a success."
"We are always looking for ways to strengthen our relationships with the local agencies we serve," said GOHSEP Director Jim Waskom. "This is an excellent way for state agencies and New Orleans leadership to review emergency functions such as information sharing, evacuation plans, pre-disaster contracts, and post-storm activity before the start of hurricane season. A full evacuation of New Orleans involves several agencies and several moving parts. It is important to test those types of activities before you face an actual emergency. Our local partners are our clients, and we want to make sure we are ready to support their efforts protecting our citizens."
The release reminds New Orleans residents and businesses to be hurricane ready by making a plan, gathering supplies, and signing up for emergency alerts. For more information, visit this website.