Emergency Support Functions 6 & 8 | Louisiana Department of Health

Emergency Support Functions 6 & 8 | Louisiana Department of Health
Emergency Preparedness & Response
Emergency Support Functions 6 & 8
Emergency Support Functions 6 & 8
Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing, Human Services, & Public Health/Medical Services
Louisiana is particularly vulnerable to both natural and human-made disasters, including hurricanes, flooding, and large-scale incidents such as disease outbreaks. Events of this magnitude can significantly strain client services and health care infrastructure, creating the need for rapid deployment of additional state and federal resources.
Emergency Preparedness serves as the lead entity for coordinating disaster response efforts within LDH and with external agencies. coordinating mass care and feeding, human services, public health, and medical support before, during, and after emergencies. This page provides a unified overview of ESF‑6 and ESF‑8 functions and how they work together to protect Louisiana residents.
Contact
628 N. 4th Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
E-Mail Us
LDH Emergency Preparedness Leadership
Ricky Montet
Executive Director
[email protected]
William "Billy" Migues
Deputy Director/ESF-6 Lead
[email protected]
Dr. Natasha Seals
Deputy Director/ESF-8 Lead
[email protected]
Kimberly Leep
Deputy Director/Administrative Finance Chief (6 & 8)
[email protected]
How ESF‑6 and ESF‑8 Work Together
ESF‑6 focuses on mass care, sheltering, feeding, emergency assistance, temporary housing, and human services.
ESF‑8 focuses on public health, medical services, patient movement, behavioral health, and fatality management.
Together, they ensure coordinated support for survivors, from sheltering and basic needs to medical care and long‑term recovery.
Key Joint Responsibilities
Mass Care, Feeding, and Medical Support
Coordinating shelter and feeding operations with medical and behavioral health support
Ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities and access/functional needs
Emergency Assistance
Reunification services
Support for individuals with chronic medical conditions
Distribution of emergency supplies
Public Health and Medical Response
Disease surveillance and outbreak control
Medical surge coordination
EMS and hospital support
Human Services and Recovery
Crisis counseling
Supporting next steps in housing through Multi-Agency Transition Teams (MASTT)
Support for vulnerable populations
Did
You
Know?
If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 911 immediately.
Louisiana Emergency Response Network:
866-320-8293
State Operations Center (SOC):
225-925-7500
Parish Office of Homeland Security (OHSEP) Contacts
GOHSEP Resources
The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP)'s
Get a Gameplan
offers guidance and assistance in preparing for and evacuating your family. Everyone must have a plan in the event of an evacuation. Always.
Have an Emergency Kit
Make an Evacuation Plan
Stay Informed
Emergency Kit
Residents are encouraged to evacuate with an emergency kit, such as the one referenced on the Get a Gameplan website, in the event that an evacuation shelter is used. Don't forget about your pets and animals. Most shelters will have arrangements made for pets, but pet evacuation and care for pets is a personal responsibility which takes preparation and planning ahead of time.
Medical Needs
Residents are encouraged to contact their
Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP)
if assistance is needed during an evacuation or to be added to the parish registry for residents with medical needs for an evacuation.
Evacuation and Shelter Information
Because of the fluid nature of shelter occupancy, residents who require a shelter are encouraged to obtain information about shelter openings and locations at shelter information points along evacuation routes. Residents who require shelter can call their local
Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP).
Emergency Preparedness Apps
Stay Connected
Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Health Alert Network (HAN)
Louisiana Department of Health
Louisiana Office of the Surgeon General
Surgeon General
Evelyn Griffin, MD
Secretary
Bruce D. Greenstein
Cicero Government