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Communications and Emergency Management are synonymous.
Each emergency scenario has its own unique requirements.
This means that our Agency; entrusted with the responsibility to
protect the citizens of Louisiana during times of need,
must remain flexible. We strive to seek out and deploy the
latest tools and technologies that provide for
efficient, cost effective, multiple
layers of reliable communications.
Our needs reach throughout the state and
beyond. We must be able to pass critical information to
all of the Parishes, State Agencies and other Partner
organizations located within Louisiana as well as
communicate with the surrounding States, and Federal
agencies. We do this in many ways. The traditional methods
such as telephone, fax and basic radio have been very
instrumental, but we can't stop there.
Radio
Communications is usually the key element as well as the
most difficult element to insure during disasters.
Continuing to communicate is a constant goal of this
Agency. Louisiana has a 700MHz/800MHz trunked radio system in
place and it has performed well. The system has
statewide coverage utilizing a repeater network
maintained by the Louisiana State Police.
Satellite
and Wireless
Satellite communications has in the past been
expensive. Today with the advances in technology, we are
able to move into these areas as well. We have a
satellite communications system in place, with access
from all Parishes. This office also utilizes satellite
information feeds from the
Data
Transmission Network (DTN)
Weather and satellite television that supplements more
traditional wired feeds.
These are the large
systems, but cellular and
wireless technology as a whole is increasingly
more applicable and critical to our operations
Amateur Radio
An
important element in contingency planning is the
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) organization. These are
volunteer amateur
radio operators who are dedicated to providing emergency
communications to Louisiana in times of extraordinary
need.
The Louisiana Emergency Alert System (EAS)
The
EAS system provides a means of disseminating timely emergency
warnings/information to the citizens of Louisiana
through existing media outlets such as radio and
television stations.
Louisiana Statewide Interoperability Network
for Communications (LASINC)
The State of
Louisiana Communications Interoperability Plan envisions
infrastructure, governance, standard operating
procedures, technology, training and exercises to
support a statewide system accessible to all state and
local first responders, with capacity and capability to
transmit emergency communications across the spectrum
from daily usage to a surge during an unknown
catastrophic event.
Other
Secure FAX and Video, non-secure video and telephone
conferencing are all tools currently utilized for
providing and receiving critical information to our
partners, decision makers and those that we support.
Another important tool are hotlines to the three nuclear
plants that effect Louisiana. |
