The following press release was issued by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
The Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center (LA BEOC) opened on the campus of the 欧美三级片 (UL Lafayette) today with a dedication event and ribbon cutting ceremony. Federal, state, 欧美三级片, LA BEOC leadership and private sector stakeholders participated. The dedication and ribbon cutting were followed by a tour and reception for business organizations and governmental disaster management officials led by Dr. Michael Dunaway, Director of the National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies (NIMSAT) Institute at UL Lafayette.
The LA BEOC opening was sponsored by the Louisiana Governor鈥檚 Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), Louisiana Economic Development (LED) and the NIMSAT Institute.
鈥淲hen disasters strike, the resumption of business operations support the resumption of other services that enable communities to get back to normal life. Much like the State Emergency Operations Center works with Federal, state, parish and local governments and other preparation, response and recovery agencies, the LA BEOC helps prepare Louisiana businesses prior to disasters and then helps provide channels through which businesses receive and provide situational awareness as well as goods and services in partnership with government, nonprofit associations and other participants in a community鈥檚 recovery,鈥 said Kevin Davis, GOHSEP Director.
Representatives from organizations and businesses that include banking, refineries, oil and gas, retail, chambers of commerce, non-profit associations and others within the Louisiana business community joined emergency and disaster recovery professionals for a first-hand look at the LA BEOC.
Randy Meshell, Federal Preparedness Coordinator and Division Director of the National Preparedness Division of FEMA Region 6 also participated in the event. Mr. Meshell is responsible for helping develop all-hazards preparedness priorities by overseeing a strengthened coordination of preparedness efforts among Federal, state, local, tribal, private-sector and citizens with the FEMA region.
Co-located with the alternate State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and the UL Lafayette Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the LA BEOC is a statewide business emergency operations center that provides situational awareness, coordination and resource support to the private sector to ensure economic stability and enhance local resilience against emergency and disaster events.
More than 40 Louisiana business leaders and industry trade associations, along with representatives from the Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (LA VOAD) have seats inside the LA BEOC facility. LA BEOC has more than 2,200 registered member businesses.
When originally conceived, the LA BEOC was the first public-private partnership of its kind in the Nation.
鈥淲ith the introduction of the Virtual LA BEOC software, every business won鈥檛 need to have a seat at the table inside the emergency operations center to participate,鈥 said UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie. 鈥淭he Virtual LA BEOC enables any business to be a part of the process,鈥 said Savoie.
鈥淭he partnership among local and state governments, private-sector businesses and nonprofits and 欧美三级片 resources provides a greater degree of collaboration and enhances the preparedness and resilience of communities. UL Lafayette is proud to be part of the partnership to reduce the risk from natural and man made disasters,鈥 said Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, UL Lafayette Vice President of Research. Kolluru is the founder of NIMSAT Institute and led development of the LA BEOC under the overarching leadership of GOHSEP and LED.
鈥淚n the event a disaster occurs, communities need goods and services in order to recover. The LA BEOC partnership facilitates the recovery of businesses and communities, the restoration of the local economy and the social life of the community.
The LA BEOC facilitates resiliency and is an effort in which every business in our state should be a part,鈥 said Jason El Koubi, President and CEO of One Acadiana.
One Acadiana is the largest business organization in the Acadiana region of the State with over 1,200 members.
LA BEOC is open to any Louisiana business or organization, and there is no cost to join. For more information visit .
You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new ALERT FM App. It is free for basic service. You can also download the new Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide and find other important information at .