BATON ROUGE, La. – In response to a request for state assistance in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced that it will send two members of its core emergency response team/ emergency response specialists to the state of New York this week.
Larry Gill, DOTD’s Emergency Services Coordinator, and Tiffany Coffman, Emergency Operations Officer, will work under the direction of the State of New York to provide onsite support, expertise and guidance in transportation coordination efforts. Gill and Coffman will provide assistance Thursday, Nov. 22 and through December 7.

DOTD Secretary Sherri H. LeBas said, “We are proud to represent the citizens of Louisiana by offering transportation coordination assistance to the state of New York. Our thoughts are with those who continue to deal with the impacts of Hurricane Sandy, and we are happy to use our disaster response knowledge and expertise to assist in any way possible.”

Louisiana DOTD’s full-time emergency operations staff has first-hand experience in emergency response efforts, having refined and improved procedures based on lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Isaac. In an emergency situation, DOTD is responsible for the transportation of people and critical supplies, as well as public works and engineering functions such as contra-flow, debris management, damage assessment and emergency repairs to transportation infrastructure.

Since 2005, DOTD has developed a process to assist people without personal transportation to evacuate risk areas. DOTD also has established a fully equipped Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which includes a call center, an information center, a transportation cell, and a public works and engineering cell. In addition to operating the DOTD EOC, the department also staffs the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness EOC and the Louisiana State Police traffic control center during an emergency.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.

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www.dotd.la.gov