Emergency Preparedness

The pandemic influenza and Novel Viral Respiratory Plan disease threat has the potential to rapidly cause illness in a very large number of people, which could easily overwhelm health systems. A pandemic outbreak could jeopardize essential community services by causing high levels of absenteeism in critical positions in every workforce. Basic services, such as public health, healthcare, law enforcement, fire, emergency response, communications, transportation, and utilities could be disrupted during an influenza pandemic. The pandemic, unlike many other emergency events, could last for several weeks or months with possible waves of illness. This disease threat could occur simultaneously across the United States presenting significant resource challenges including personnel, supplies, and equipment.

The Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health (LDH/OPH), pursuant to the emergency rulemaking authority granted by R.S. 40:4(A)(13), hereby adopts the following Emergency Rule for the protection of public health. This Emergency Rule is promulgated specifically in accordance with R.S. 49:953(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (R.S. 49:950, et seq .). The LDH/OPH expressly finds that an imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare requires adoption of this rule on an emergency basis.

While testing LDH's capability to provide vaccines or antiviral drugs to people around the state in the event of an emergency, health officials got creative in central Louisiana last fall with drive-thru flu shot clinics.

Dr. Frank Welch, medical director for emergency preparedness at the Louisiana Department of Health, directs and coordinates all aspects of infectious disease planning and response activities for Louisiana. We asked Dr. Welch about the planning and response to COVID-19 at a time when Dr. Welch’s team was also responding to five concurrent outbreaks of infectious diseases: seasonal flu, hepatitis A, mumps, norovirus and chicken pox.

Working with the Louisiana Department of Health and its Office of Public Health, leaders in Acadiana have demonstrated the ability to plan for, respond to and recover from hazards, disasters and health emergencies.

Working with the Louisiana Department of Health and its Office of Public Health, leaders in Monroe and throughout the area have demonstrated the ability to plan for, respond to and recover from hazards, disasters and health emergencies.

The Louisiana Department of Health will close oyster beds in areas 23-28 beginning at sunrise Thursday, July 18, 2019, due to potential poor water quality because of Tropical Storm Barry.

The Louisiana Department of Health advises that residents and those working with the public during and after Tropical Storm Barry consider vaccinations to protect against infectious diseases.

The Louisiana Department of Health has reopened the New Orleans-area molluscan shellfish growing waters, Areas 1-22 effective at sunrise tomorrow, July 16, 2019.