By Staff Sgt. David C. Kirtland, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office
NEW ORLEANS – Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, the adjutant general of Louisiana joined other senior leaders of the Louisiana National Guard and emergency management officials at the Louisiana Emergency Management Conference, held May 6 at the Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel & Casino in Lake Charles.
The annual conference, which runs May 5–8, brings together emergency response professionals from across the State to strengthen disaster preparedness and coordination efforts.
This year’s event, hosted by the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association, focused on the theme “Past, Present, and Future of Emergency Management.” The agenda included workshops, panel discussions and an exhibit hall featuring the latest emergency response tools and technologies.
Panel discussions related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were particularly relevant with the 20th anniversary of the catastrophic hurricanes approaching this summer. Officials from state and local agencies detailed their organizations’ challenges and successes from those events and then outlined what changed in the State and Nation in the years following. Ultimately, Louisiana is in a much better position today to respond to emergencies due to enhancements in technology, the state to state emergency assistance system and interagency coordination.
Friloux’s attendance underscores the LANG’s commitment to interagency collaboration and readiness. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and LANG play key roles in disaster response across Louisiana, frequently working alongside local and state agencies during hurricanes, floods and other emergencies.
“GOHSEP’s core capability of caring for our citizens on their worst day continues to remain at the forefront of our mission,” Friloux told attendees. “The Louisiana National Guard remains ultimately committed to alleviating the suffering of Louisiana citizens as we respond to emergencies — and I know you do, too.”
Also in attendance were Brig. Gen. Jason Mahfouz, interim director of GOHSEP and Col. Greg St. Romain, LANG director of operations.
The conference also included networking events and training sessions to enhance coordination among emergency management personnel. The exhibit hall, open May 6 and 8, allowed attendees to engage with vendors and explore new tools and resources for disaster preparedness.
