First Responders Subcommittee, LA

First Responders Subcommittee

The First Responders Subcommittee will meet to review the 2026 State Homeland Security Program budget and spending plan, discuss updates to its charter and bylaws, and nominate a vice-chair and new members. The meeting includes procedural items like reading minutes and reports of officers.

• Review 2026 SHSP Budget and Spending Plan
• Update First Responders Subcommittee Charter and Bylaws
• Nominate Vice-Chair for First Responders Subcommittee
• Nominate member to represent nonprofit volunteer groups
• Validate current membership

The subcommittee approved updates to its charter and by-laws and appointed Bryan Adams as vice chairman. Members discussed three options for allocating $4 million in SHSP funding but tabled a final vote until December.

• Approved minutes from June 11, 2025
• Elected Bryan Adams (Fire Marshal) as vice chairman
• Approved changes to subcommittee charter and by-laws
• Appointed Burk Hughes (American Red Cross) as non-profit volunteer group representative
• Tabled vote on Chairman of the Preparedness Advisory Committee
• Tabled final vote on SHSP budget allocation until the week of December 15th

First Responders Subcommittee

The subcommittee approved the minutes from June 13, 2024. Members received updates on school safety, drone mitigation, and cyber threats, but no funding allocations were decided due to delays in grant releases.

• Approved June 13, 2024 meeting minutes

First Responders Subcommittee

The First Responder Subcommittee will meet on June 11, 2025, to discuss current threat briefings, including LA-SAFE and cybersecurity updates. New business includes an overview of 2025 preparedness grant programs such as SHSP, UASI, EMPG, OPSG, NSGP, EOC, and SLCGP, along with SHSP grant allocations and preparedness initiatives. The meeting will also include approval of prior minutes and scheduling of future meetings.

• Approval of minutes from June 13, 2024
• Current threat briefings: LA-SAFE, GOHSEP Critical Infrastructure MSA Relative Risk Profile, Cybersecurity
• 2025 Preparedness Grant Programs: SHSP, UASI, EMPG, OPSG, NSGP, EOC, SLCGP
• 2025 SHSP Grant Allocations
• Preparedness Initiatives

First Responders Subcommittee

The First Responders Subcommittee is meeting to review cybersecurity, school safety, and risk profiles. The body will also discuss the 2024 Preparedness Grant Programs and specific SHSP grant allocations.

• 2024 Preparedness Grant Programs including SHSP, UASI, EMPG, OPSG, NSGP, EOC, and SLCGP
• 2024 SHSP Grant Overview and Allocations
• Cybersecurity and School Safety updates
• Louisiana and Metropolitan Statistical Area Relative Risk Profile Update

The subcommittee approved the minutes from April 18, 2023, and voted to approve updated investments required for grants. Members received updates on cybersecurity funding, school safety grants, and preparations for the 2025 Super Bowl.

• Approved April 18, 2023 meeting minutes
• Approved updated investments required for grants
• Set next subcommittee meeting for April 23, 2025

First Responders Subcommittee

The First Responders Subcommittee will review the Louisiana and Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Relative Risk Profile Update. The meeting includes reports from the Preparedness Advisory Committee, LSP LA-SAFE, and GOHSEP Homeland Security.

• Louisiana and MSA Relative Risk Profile Update
• Preparedness Advisory Committee report
• LSP LA-SAFE update
• GOHSEP Homeland Security update

The First Responders Subcommittee approved the June 2018 meeting minutes and voted unanimously to recommend Option 2 for allocating 2019 grant funding to local parishes. Members also expressed support for a new Bomb Material Awareness Program planned for 2019.

• Approved June 2018 meeting minutes
• Recommended Option 2 for 2019 grant funding allocation (Unanimous)
• Voiced support for the new Bomb Material Awareness Program (LSA, OSFM, and LFCA)
• Tabled in-depth discussion on Interoperability until next meeting

First Responders Subcommittee

The First Responders Subcommittee met to discuss grant allocations, First Net implementation updates, and current threat briefings. The body voted to recommend a specific disbursement option for the 2017 State Homeland Security Program grants.

• Recommendation of 'option 2' for 2017 SHSP grant disbursements
• Update on First Net implementation priorities for Fire, Law Enforcement, and EMS
• Threat briefing regarding rallies/protests related to Alton Sterling and monument removals
• Briefing on 2017 DHS Relative MSA Risk Score changes for Louisiana

The First Responders Subcommittee recommended 'option 2' to Director Jim Waskom for the 2017 State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) local parish grant awards. The group also received updates on the FirstNet broadband project and current threat assessments.

• Recommended option 2 for 2017 SHSP local parish grant awards to Director Jim Waskom

First Responders Subcommittee

The First Responder Subcommittee approved a formula for dispersing 2016 SHSP grants based on a parish base and population. Members also voted to return 2015 SHSP deobligated funds to GOHSEP for the purchase of response items. The meeting included threat briefings on terrorism, gang activity, and cyber threats.

• Approved 2016 SHSP grant allocation based on a parish base and population (unanimous)
• Approved returning 2015 SHSP deobligated funds to GOHSEP for response items (all affirmative)

First Responders Subcommittee

The subcommittee will review 2016 SHSP project and grant allocations and receive an update on the Louisiana Risk Assessment 2016. The meeting also includes agency updates and a threats briefing.

• Review of 2016 SHSP Project and Grant Allocations
• Louisiana Risk Assessment 2016 Update
• Threats Briefing
• Approval of November 4, 2015 meeting minutes

The First Responders Subcommittee approved a formula for sharing 2016 SHSP grants and decided how to handle 2015 deobligated funds. The meeting also included threat briefings on terrorism, gangs, and cyber security.

• Approved 2016 SHSP grant allocations based on a base for each parish plus a population-based remainder (Unanimous)
• Approved returning 2015 SHSP deobligated funds to GOHSEP for purchase of response items (Unanimous)
• Approved minutes of the previous meeting

First Responders Subcommittee

The First Responder Subcommittee is meeting to receive updates on homeland security grants and the School Emergency Management Program. The body will also discuss FirstNet, risk assessments, and radiological detection programs.

• Status update on Homeland Security Grants
• School Emergency Management Program discussion
• FirstNet update
• DHS Risk Assessment 2015 Update
• Preventative Radiological/Nuclear Detection Program update

The First Responders Subcommittee approved a proposal to establish an All Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Advisory Committee. This committee will provide guidance to GOHSEP on the credentialing of members and the implementation of AHIMT programs in Louisiana.

• Approved minutes of the previous meeting
• Approved proposal to establish an AHIMT Advisory Committee (unanimous)

First Responders Subcommittee

The subcommittee is meeting to discuss the status of Homeland Security Grants and the School Emergency Management Program. The agenda includes updates on interoperability and LA-CBRNE 2015 workshops.

• Status of Homeland Security Grants
• School Emergency Management Program
• Interoperability Update
• Threats Briefing (FOUO)
• LA-CBRNE 2015 Workshops Update

First Responders Subcommittee

The subcommittee is meeting to discuss the status of Homeland Security Grants and FY 2014 grant applications. The agenda includes briefings on threats, risk survey results, and the Next-Generation Incident Command System.

• Status on de-obligation of Homeland Security Grants
• FY 2014 Grant Application Update
• IPAWS and ALERT FM Update
• 2013 Risk Survey and 2014 Risk Profile Results Briefing
• LA-CBRNE Workshops Update

First Responders Subcommittee

The First Responders Subcommittee will convene to discuss routine business including roll call, approval of minutes, and member updates. Key items include a Homeland Security Grants update by Christina Dayries, a threats briefing (FOUO) by Lt. Chuck McNeal, and presentations on the SAR Initiative ('See Something, Send Something') and school security. The agenda is largely informational with no specific votes or dollar amounts listed.

• Homeland Security Grants update by Christina Dayries
• Threats briefing (FOUO) by Lt. Chuck McNeal
• SAR Initiative – 'See Something, Send Something' by CPT Paul Edmonson
• Brief on 'The Sandy Effect' by Pat Santos
• School security presentation by Chris Guilbeaux

The subcommittee approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Members received briefings on homeland security grants, current threats, and a new suspicious activity reporting app. The group decided that GOHSEP’s Fusion Liaison will accompany federal outreach programs regarding active shooter security in Jefferson and Rapides Parishes.

• Approved minutes of the previous meeting
• Decided GOHSEP’S Fusion Liaison will accompany PSAs for federal active shooter security briefings in Jefferson and Rapides Parishes

First Responders Subcommittee

The subcommittee will receive updates on Homeland Security Grants and emergency services mutual aid. The agenda includes briefings on threats, risk assessments, and state preparedness.

• Homeland Security Grants Update
• Threats Briefing
• Emergency Services – Mutual Aid brief
• Louisiana Threat and Hazard Identification, and Risk Assessment (THIRA) brief
• State Preparedness Report (SPR) brief

The subcommittee approved the minutes from the previous meeting. Members received briefings on homeland security grant reductions, current threat assessments, and emergency communication systems. No other substantive actions were taken.

• Approved previous meeting minutes