BATON ROUGE, La. –In a precautionary measure, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness activated its Crisis Action Team (CAT) to monitor Hurricane Dean in the Atlantic Ocean. The team will provide updates to our State and Parish partners as the storm develops and follows its projected path into the Yucatan Peninsula.

Earlier today, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and GOHSEP hosted a Unified Command Conference Call to update the heads of state agencies on the developing storm. The CAT will monitor the storm 24 hours a day until the storm no longer posses a threat to Louisiana.

GOHSEP also held conference calls with the Southeast and Southwest Hurricane Task Forces and another conference call with the Louisiana Shelter Task Force to ensure our parish partners were updated on the latest information. Additionally, GOHSEP has begun testing communications assets with our local and federal partners; has contacted and alerted vendors who serve the state to be at the ready; and alerted its state partners to the possibility of an activation of the State Emergency Operations Center in the next 24 to 36 hours.

“Louisiana is prepared.  We will keep a close eye on Hurricane Dean throughout the weekend,” said GOHSEP Director Jeff Smith.  “I want to remind our citizens to also do their part and prepare. This storm serves as a reminder that we should be prepared now. I strongly urge our citizens to pick up an evacuation guide and begin planning for your family’s safety should this or a future storm head toward Louisiana.”  

With Hurricane Dean churning toward the Gulf of Mexico, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Bob Odom is once again reminding pet and livestock owners to include animals in their hurricane preparation plans.

“Animal ownership is a personal responsibility, and properly caring for your animals during a storm takes careful preparation and planning ahead of time,” Odom said. “State and local governments are here to assist but animal care begins at home.”