The Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center opened Wednesday in Baton Rouge to provide an institution and information nexus assisting businesses in times of crisis. Located at Louisiana State University's South Campus, the facility is a partnership among the LSU Stephenson Disaster Management Institute, Louisiana Economic Development, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and the University of...
The Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center opened Wednesday in Baton Rouge to provide an institution and information nexus assisting businesses in times of crisis.
Located at Louisiana State University's South Campus, the facility is a partnership among the LSU Stephenson Disaster Management Institute, Louisiana Economic Development, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies Institute.
With a capacity to house up to 40 key representatives from the business community, volunteer organizations and state government, the center will make disaster recovery recommendations to state agencies and the interagency-crisis team called the Unified Command Group.
"The mission of the LA BEOC is to support disaster management in Louisiana by developing an accurate understanding of economic impacts to critical infrastructures and major economic drivers, as well as coordinating businesses and volunteer organizations with the public sector," according to a news release Wednesday. "Through the LA BEOC, the state will work to improve disaster preparedness and response; reduce reliance on FEMA and other federal assistance; maximize business, industry and economic stabilization; and return the business environment to normal operations quickly."
The center is financed by the partnering agencies and other corporate partners. In addition, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana presented the Forever LSU campaign with a $250,000 gift for the LSU Stephenson Disaster Management Institute. The Institute will use the donation to complete the final phase of the center. Louisiana businesses are asked to register at www.LABEOC.org to provide information about the products and services they can provide to support the state's disaster response plan. The website also provides a secure way to donate money, goods and services during times of disaster.