06/02/2010
Public-Private-Academic Partners Launch Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center
LA BEOC is Louisiana's first emergency
operations center dedicated to response and recovery for
businesses
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Today, Louisiana Economic Development
Secretary Stephen Moret joined Governor's Office of Homeland
Security and Emergency Preparedness, or GOHSEP, Director Mark
Cooper, University of Louisiana at Lafayette President Joseph
Savoie representing the National Incident Management Systems and
Advanced Technologies, or NIMSAT, Institute, and Louisiana State
University Chancellor Dr. Michael Martin representing the
Stephenson Disaster Management Institute, or SDMI, at the ribbon
cutting ceremony for the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations
Center, or LA BEOC.
A unique effort in the U.S., the LA BEOC represents the first
time Louisiana's public, private and academic sectors have
coordinated emergency efforts of businesses and volunteer
organizations statewide in a structured manner. Serving as an annex
of the state's Emergency Operations Center, the LA BEOC will
facilitate communication with the state's major economic driver
industries, as well as owners and operators of critical
infrastructures and key resources to enhance Louisiana's emergency
management efforts. The LA BEOC will be led by the NIMSAT
Institute, with support from SDMI, under an overarching leadership
of LED and GOHSEP.
"This year, forecasters are predicting a very busy storm
season," said Gov. Bobby Jindal. "No matter how many storms are
predicted though, it's critical that folks start preparing now for
the threat of a storm. We know it only takes one storm to change
the lives of Louisianians. That's why we always hope for the best
and prepare for the worst. We're encouraging everyone to visit www.getagameplan.org and Get a Game Plan right
away in case a storm is headed towards Louisiana. At the state
level, we continue to enhance hurricane preparedness and response
efforts -- and we're working with our federal partners to modify
existing hurricane plans to meet the unique challenges posed by the
BP oil spill."
The LA BEOC will work with businesses to improve their disaster
preparedness; improve communication with business and industry
before, during and after disaster events; rapidly develop accurate
economic impact estimates to support decision making and requests
for business assistance; coordinate response efforts to assist
businesses in their efforts to return to normal operations as
quickly as possible; and help coordinate post-disaster economic
recovery.
"Louisiana's business community needs to be equipped with the
information, tools and support to rebound quickly from all types of
emergency situations," said Moret. "The LA BEOC will help us
streamline response efforts for the business community, quickly
assess economic impacts and effectively communicate with our
existing businesses before, during and after future disaster
situations. In turn, the LA BEOC will help us quickly and
effectively address the physical damage, disruption of operations
and financial loss suffered by our businesses."
"It is extremely important that Louisiana's businesses and
industries are prepared for all disasters that can impact our
state; and that those critical to bringing communities back on line
following a disaster are integrated into the state's emergency
planning and response efforts," said Cooper. "The LA BEOC is
important for facilitating that relationship and coordinating
private sector involvement and support during a time of crisis. The
end result is a more resilient Louisiana."
"During hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a team of researchers and
staff at UL Lafayette under the leadership of Dr. Ramesh Kolluru
recognized the need for public-private partnerships," said Savoie.
"They have worked tirelessly for the past five years to establish
the NIMSAT Institute and to conduct research and develop
technologies to implement these partnerships for the benefit of the
state of Louisiana and the nation. Under the leadership of Dr.
Kolluru and at the direction of GOHSEP Director Mark Cooper and LED
Secretary Stephen Moret, the NIMSAT Institute assisted in the
informal deployment of these partnerships during hurricanes Gustav
and Ike in 2008. Today, as the LA BEOC is formalized, the
university and the NIMSAT Institute are proud to lead this
collaborative public-private partnership, under the direction of
LED and GOHSEP and with support of our partners from Louisiana
State University's Stephenson Disaster Management Institute."
To further support communication between LA BEOC and businesses,
LABEOC.org has
been activated for businesses to learn about disaster information
alerts and provide post-disaster economic impact updates. Louisiana
businesses are encouraged to register at the online portal,
providing their contact information, as well as details about the
products and services they might be able to provide to support the
state's disaster response. The portal also offers a secure way to
donate money, goods or services.
"The LA BEOC is the result of a truly unique and collaborative
effort amongst business, government and academic entities," said
Martin. "The LA BEOC will provide real support to Louisiana's
business community by providing a direct line of communication for
critical industry associations to state government agencies so that
resources can be committed to help them get businesses back up and
running as quickly as possible. The center's value has already been
realized through its involvement with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill
response efforts. LSU's Stephenson Disaster Management Institute
has been instrumental in making this center a reality. LSU is
committed to meeting the needs of our community and state, and is
honored to participate in this partnership by working together
towards a common goal."
The LA BEOC will have 42 Dell terminals with access to 10
workstations to be used by industry and Volunteer Organizations
Active in Disasters, or VOAD, decision makers. Louisiana Optical
Network Initiative and Cox Communications will provide Internet
access. Accessories enhancing the LA BEOC information system
include: an audio visual system with two high-definition plasma
screens and three high-lumen projectors, high-speed color printers,
an electronic white board, video conferencing systems, a wireless
network, conference rooms and generator capacity to withstand long
disasters without electricity. These features will provide members
better connectivity to other EOC systems, and allow them to gain
access to GOHSEP's online portal, Virtual Louisiana.
Located at LSU's South Campus, the LA BEOC will seat up to 40
business leaders, industry trade associations and organizations, as
well as representatives from the Louisiana VOAD. When activated,
the LA BEOC and its representatives will make disaster recovery and
response recommendations to LED, GOHSEP and the governor's Unified
Command Group.
The LA BEOC industry seats include Acadiana Economic
Development, Association of Contingency Planners, Baton Rouge Area
Chamber, Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, Greater
New Orleans Inc., Louisiana Hotel and Motel Association, Louisiana
Motor Transport Association, Louisiana Oil Marketers and
Convenience Store Association, Louisiana Pulp and Paper
Association, Louisiana Restaurant Association, Louisiana Retailers
Association, Louisiana Telecommunications Association, Louisiana
Mid-continent Oil and Gas Association, Louisiana Association of
Business and Industry, Louisiana Bankers Association, Louisiana
Chemical Association, Louisiana Hospital Association, Louisiana
Technology Council, National Federation of Independent Business,
North Louisiana Economic Partnership, Northeast Louisiana Economic
Alliance, Ports Association of Louisiana, South Louisiana Economic
Council and Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. Each
member of the LA BEOC must complete initial disaster management
training before actively serving in the LA BEOC.
The following companies have also donated equipment, technology
and services to the LA BEOC: Aruba Networks, Citrix Corp., Dell
Corp., Entergy, First Call, FrontRow and Polivision.
