2 weeks Ago
Chad Sonnier, left, the recently named director of Lafayette Parish's new Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and Jennifer Landry, right, emergency management officer, at their offices on Willow Street Monday, November 18, 2024 in Scott, La.. STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP Newley named director of Lafayette Parish's new Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Chad Sonnier, at his office on Willow Street Monday, November 18, 2024 in Scott, La.
. STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP Chad Sonnier, the recently named director of Lafayette Parish's new Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at his offices on Willow Street Monday, November 18, 2024 in Scott, La..
STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP Chad Sonnier, the newley named director of Lafayette Parish's new Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at his offices on Willow Street Monday, November 18, 2024 in Scott, La.. STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP Newley named director of Lafayette Parish's new Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Chad Sonnier, at his office on Willow Street Monday, November 18, 2024 in Scott, La.
. STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP Chad Sonnier, the recently named director of Lafayette Parish's new Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at his offices on Willow Street Monday, November 18, 2024 in Scott, La..
STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP Chad Sonnier, the newley named director of Lafayette Parish's new Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at his offices on Willow Street Monday, November 18, 2024 in Scott, La.. STAFF PHOTO BY BRAD KEMP Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Lafayette Parish is expected to have a new emergency operations plan in place ahead of the 2025 hurricane season.
The parish recently created a new Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and hired a consultant to update its emergency operations plan to match national standards. Lafayette Consolidated Government also recently invested in a new emergency alert system that's set to launch in the new year. "We're trying to take LCG to the modern age with the technology that's available right now," said LCG's Chief of Staff Christina Dayries.
"What we've been using is the federal government system." Christiana Dayries, right, Chief of Staff for LCG, Chad Sonnier, center, the recently named director of Lafayette Parish's new Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and Jennifer Landry, emergence management officer in their offices on Willow Street Monday, November 18, 2024 in Scott, La..
Instead of a text alert that says flash flooding is occurring in Lafayette Parish, an alert under the new system might specify a list of roadways that police are closing because of flash flooding. The new communications system is a piece of the emergency preparedness puzzle that Lafayette Mayor-President Boulet is trying to complete before a natural disaster strikes the parish. She had several near misses during her first year in office, including freezes, extreme heat, flash flooding, high-wind events and Hurricane Francine.
Boulet initially proposed overhauling the region's emergency preparedness operations in a July 2 meeting of the Lafayette Parish Council. Her proposal was met with mixed response by council members, who eventually approved a modified version of the plan in August that delayed the hiring of an emergency operations manager for the new office. Council members John Guilbeau and Ken Stansbury questioned during July meetings the rush to create and fund the new office in the middle of the 2024 hurricane season.
Guilbeau also noted that while the new office was proposed as being budget neutral to the parish, it would come in at a higher cost than the longtime operation under Lafayette 911, which the city contributed to. Once approved, Boulet appointed longtime Scott Fire Chief Chad Sonnier as director of the newly created office. Sonnier, who began in his new role Sept.
30, brings more than three decades of experience in emergency management, disaster response and public safety leadership experience to the position. He was one of 19 people to apply . He's tasked with leading the parish's emergency preparedness efforts and overseeing coordination among federal, state and local governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector during times of crisis.
His efforts will focus on enhancing collaboration before, during and after critical emergency events to ensure the safety and resilience of the community. "It's brand new, which is a good thing because we get to develop it the way we want, from the ground up," Sonnier said. "And I would like to develop it long term so when I retire, somebody else comes in and just takes off with a strong foundation.
" Chad Sonnier, the recently named director of Lafayette Parish's new Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at his offices on Willow Street Monday, November 18, 2024 in Scott, La.. Sonnier has been meeting with primary and support agencies that respond to emergencies to identify needs and resources available to meet those needs.
Duson Mayor Johnny Thibodeaux recently shared with Sonnier that transportation is a major problem for his community. Many do not have a vehicle or way to get to an emergency shelter, sandbag site or supply distribution location. Sonnier is working to develop a solution to that problem, such as deploying Lafayette Transit System buses to the community to provide emergency routes to critical services ahead of or after a disaster.
As Sonnier continues to determine needs and resources, Louisiana State University is working to revise the parish's existing emergency operations plan. LSU's project will involve data collection, drone flyovers, project meetings and delivery of the updated plan so it meets national standards. The new emergency operations plan is expected to be in place by May.
The office's second hire, an emergency management officer, is Jennifer Landry. Landry spent four years working in emergency management in the Lake Charles area, where she played a key role in eight federally declared disasters, including Hurricane Laura. During her tenure at the Calcasieu Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Landry wrote transportation and shelter plans.
She also has experience developing emergency evacuation and shelter plans for hospitals and nursing homes. Landry, who also applied for the director position, began in her new role on Nov. 14.
"I love it," Landry said. "You do not learn what your passion is until you actually go through a disaster. Hurricane Laura made me realize that I get excited about floods and hurricanes when everybody else runs.
" After everything she's experienced in Lake Charles, Landry said her message to Lafayette is simple: There's no such thing as hurricane season. "It's disaster season, which is January 1 to December 31," Landry said. "Because anything can happen.
You learn that you have to always be prepared for any disaster, any time, any season.".
