Emergency Operations (EOC)
Paul Oncale
Director of Public Safety
Kathryn Gilmore
Assistant Director / Chief of Staff
1801 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace LA 70068
Phone: 985 / 652-2222
- Department of Public Safety
- Office of Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security (formerly Civil Defense)
- Office of Fire and Rescue Services
- Emergency 911 Communications Center
In 1990, St. John Parish's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was completed. The Center is staffed with three full time employees and numerous trained and active volunteers. Housed in the EOC are the parish's Department of Public Safety, Civil Defense, Office of Fire and Rescue Service, and the E 9-1-1 Communications Center.
All emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities are coordinated through this facility. State of the art technological systems are used. Computers and equipment are constantly being upgraded.
TECHNOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
Computers and computer software are utilized in all phases of emergency management.
Acurate and timely weather information is obtained from both and on-site satellite feed from a private vendor and NOAA's National Weather Service. Click here to obtain the latest doppler radar image for our area from the National Weather Service.
Forecast data, watches and warnings are received from NOAA Information on FLOOD HAZARD AREAS
Computer modeling utilized in hazardous material planning and response:
- ALOHA (Chemical plume modeling)
- CAMEO (industrial database inventory management)
- ARCHIE (plume modeling)
- HMDC (MSDS database)
- SAFER (plume mode6g)
- TIER 2 (chemical inventory database)
- ERG93 (emergency response guides)
Computer modeling utilized in hurricane and flooding response:
SLOSH - An acronym for Sea, Lake and Overland Surge Heights, the SLOSH model, which was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a planning tool that looks at the potential hurricane storm surges that could affect southeast Louisiana.
HURREVAC (hurricane evacuation)
LOCAL EMERGENCY
PLANNING COMMITTEE (LEPC)
In operation since 1988, the committee meets bi-monthly to discuss, develop and coordinate with local government agencies, private industry and the public, emergency plans specific in hazardous materials manufactured, stored, used or transported in the parish. All major industries in St. John Parish are represented on this committee.
The Chemical Manufacturers Association has presented the St. John committee the CAER Achievement award in recognition of the highly successful development and implementation of a CAER program in St. John Parish.
INDUSTRIAL MUTUAL AID
An Industrial Mutual Aid System is in place whereby local industry and government have emergency resources available during emergency incidents.
Open dialogue between industry, government and the public on environmental issues is present.
St. John rates well below neighboring parishes in toxic releases along the Mississippi River corridor making it extremely possible to be granted EPA environmental permits for new construction.
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RESPONSE TEAM
This is a volunteer response group of which 95% of the participants are employed by local industries. The team responds to most transportation, hazardous material incidents and each must carry a technician level certification.. Local industry plays an important role in the training of the Response Team.
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
An overall, comprehensive, all-hazard emergency operations plan has been developed by St. John Parish and is continually reviewed and updated. The Plan was developed in accordance with FEMA, National Response Team, DOT, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, LA Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act 2003, and local ordinance.
The parish works in conjunction with each individual industrial facility to assure that site-specific plans are coordinated with the parish overall plan.
FIRE DEPARTMENTS
There are 14 fire stations parish wide with over 125 volunteer fully trained and certified firemen. The latest in fire and safety apparatus includes 13 fire engines, two tankers, five rescue units, two ladder trucks, a hazardous material unit, and portable breathing unit. Many volunteer firemen are employed by local industries and are trained in industrial safety.