Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

What We Do Louisiana is a high-risk State for emergency events and disasters. In addition to numerous natural disasters – hurricanes, floods, high winds, and others – that threaten our State, we are home to critical supply routes and energy production resources that are attractive targets for man-made disruptions. Emergency Management The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) was created by an act of the Louisiana Legislature – Louisiana Revised Statute (LRS) Title 29:725, the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act (Louisiana Disaster Act). We are the agency responsible for coordinating the State’s efforts throughout the emergency management cycle to prepare for, prevent where possible, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against to lessen the effects of man-made or natural disasters that threaten our State. The Director of GOHSEP is appointed by the Governor as the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR) for all disasters and acts on behalf of the Governor in the event of an emergency or disaster. The Director of GOHSEP is also appointed by the Governor as the State’s Homeland Security Advisor (HSA) for all homeland security-related matters.