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A
Brief History
The
Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP); formally the
Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (LOHSEP), was created by the Civil Act of
1950. In 1976 GOHSEP via the
Louisiana government reorganization, was moved to the Department of Public
Safety (DPS). In 1990 GOHSEP
was transferred again to the Military Department. In 2003 the Agency
name was changed to the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
Preparedness, reflecting the additional responsibilities to the State
and her citizens. In March of 2006 the Agency came under the Governor's
Office and the name was changed to the Governor's Office of Homeland
Security and Emergency Preparedness to reflect this change.
Since
1990, the Agency has managed over
25
Federal Disaster
Declarations and has coordinated several hundred State Disaster
Declarations authorized under the Governor's signature. Over the years,
the mission has evolved to include the spectrum of natural, man-made disasters and
as of 2003; the duties and responsibilities for supporting Louisiana's
Homeland Security needs.
Since 1990,
GOHSEP has been under the leadership of
four
Directors, Major General Ansel M. Stroud, Major General Bennett C. Landreneau,
Jeff Smith
and the current Director, Mark Cooper. The staff
at the Baton Rouge office have also undergone many changes and adjusted
personnel to accommodate a number of large disasters such as Hurricane Andrew,
Tropical Storm Allison , Isidore and Lilli in 2002, and more recently the
devastating damages resulting from Hurricane Katrina and Rita in 2005.
The inclusion of the Homeland Security mission has also created
many additional staffing requirements.
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Photo by S
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In the spring of 2002
GOHSEP moved to a new
facility, located in the Independence Boulevard
area. The expanded capabilities that the new
location provides, further enhances the Agency's mission readiness
and ability to protect the citizens of Louisiana.
In 2007
GOHSEP was honored to receive National accreditation through the
Emergency Management Accreditation
Program (EMAP).
Effective communication and
partnerships with the Governor's
Office, the Legislature, our Congressional staff, State officials,
Parish and City officials, Parish Emergency Directors, our partner state
agencies, individual citizens and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
in conjunction with the Federal Homeland Security has improved
greatly since 1990. In most cases critical disaster
data can now be transmitted instantly between the
various supporting agencies and offices via the upgraded radio, computer
and web based systems. These tools help provide a multi-tiered
operational environment that is much more efficient and reliable during
disaster operations; when time sensitive information is so vital to
mission accomplishment.
The
GOHSEP
staff is poised and ready to serve the
people of Louisiana at a moments notice.
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