By Sgt. Danny Hough, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office
NEW ORLEANS – The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Louisiana National Guard and other emergency support function partners came together during GOHSEP’s quarterly coordination meeting, held June 3 in Baton Rouge, as the State approaches the 20th anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The gathering served as both a strategic planning session and a powerful reminder of the lessons learned from the devastating 2005 hurricane season. Leaders across the agencies emphasized their commitment to maintaining rapid and effective disaster response capabilities.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry addressed partner agencies directly, reinforcing confidence in the state’s emergency response system and recent changes aimed at improving operational efficiency.
“I think we do it better than anyone else around the country,” said Landry. “I was thoroughly impressed with the way that we operated during Hurricane Francine; but I think those types of events only help to improve and strengthen the system. I am looking forward to making sure that we deliver for the people of this State, and you do not have to worry during those times of emergency.”
Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, the adjutant general of Louisiana, emphasized the importance of unity and preparedness as the State reflects on past storms and looks ahead.
“As we approach the 20th anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it is imperative that we reflect on our lessons learned,” said Friloux. “Louisiana is absolutely prepared to mitigate the risks of a hurricane. We have proved that over and over. We consistently make improvements to processes to ensure our citizens get the best from us in terms of emergency support on their worst days.”
Brig. Gen. Jason Mahfouz, interim director of GOHSEP, emphasized Louisiana’s national reputation for emergency response leadership.
“We routinely receive requests from out-of-state partners and through EMAC (Emergency Management Assistance Compact) missions — a reflection of the expertise Louisiana brings to the table,” said Mahfouz. “Our Region VI partners at FEMA have acknowledged that we do things well here, but we’re always working to raise the bar.”
Now aligned under the Louisiana National Guard as part of a broader efficiency initiative, GOHSEP’s core mission remains unchanged. Officials stressed that the realignment would have no adverse impact on the state’s emergency readiness or response time.
“Our mission remains the same for both agencies as we come together: to save lives, protect property and maintain infrastructure,” said Friloux.
The meeting highlighted preparations for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially began June 1. With forecasts predicting an above-average number of storms, the gathering served as a critical touchpoint for refining protocols, reinforcing communication channels, and reviewing resource deployment strategies.
Attendees included representatives from state and local emergency agencies, law enforcement, public health, transportation, and key federal partners. Together, the agencies reiterated their shared mission: protecting Louisiana’s citizens through coordinated, swift and effective disaster response.
The event also featured displays of emergency response equipment and vehicles from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana National Guard, showcasing the breadth of tools available to support disaster response efforts.
As Louisiana reflects on the past and looks toward a potentially active hurricane season, the message from state leaders was clear: unity, preparedness, and shared commitment will continue to define Louisiana’s emergency response efforts in 2025 and beyond.
