Emergency Preparedness

Lake Charles and the surrounding parishes have an abundance of small, individual sewage systems such as those with septic tanks. Many of these have been inundated with floodwater that may be contaminated with sewage, bacteria and other dangerous substances.

Swaths of Louisiana are likely to lose power during Tropical Storm Barry, prompting many Louisianans to turn to individual, gas-powered generators. However, every year, many people are killed or hospitalized due to improper and unsafe use of generators.

Louisiana is preparing for flooding in many regions throughout the state due to Tropical Storm Barry. The Louisiana Department of Health advises all Louisiana residents to be aware of the dangers floodwater poses and to take all appropriate precautions.

BATON ROUGE (July 8, 2019): The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) is urging the people of Louisiana to monitor the forecast over the next several days due to possible tropical development in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the National Hurricane Center, a trough of low pressure located over central Georgia is forecast to move southward toward the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, where a broad area of low pressure is expected to form in a couple of days.

The Louisiana Department of Health has reopened the New Orleans-area molluscan shellfish growing waters, Areas 1, 2 and 3 effective at sunrise today, September 6, 2018. The areas have previously been closed as a precaution due to adverse weather conditions from Tropical Storm Gordon.

The Louisiana Department of Health will close New Orleans-area molluscan shellfish growing waters, Areas 1, 2 and 3, effective at sunset today, September 4, 2018. This is a precautionary closure due to the adverse weather conditions from Tropical Storm Gordon.

After a disaster, people with disabilities and the elderly need special assistance during their stay in emergency shelters. These documents provide guidance for care during emergency situations.