Created by State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley in November 2021, The Protect Louisiana Schools Hurricane Preparedness Commission (PLSHPC) is Louisiana’s first statewide commission centered on solidifying our public school’s core infrastructures and creating operational best practices for school systems and leaders during natural disasters.
The PLSHPC brought together experts from the private sector, academia, and government to formulate comprehensive recommendations to modernize Louisiana’s education infrastructure and equip school systems with the necessary tools to protect their facilities pre- and post-hurricane.
Hurricane Preparedness Playbook
Louisiana's Hurricane Preparedness Playbook includes best practices and expert guidance to support school system leaders before, during, and after a hurricane. It was developed by the Louisiana Department of Education's Protect Louisiana Schools Hurricane Preparedness Commission and made possible through a partnership with AT&T. The playbook PDF includes school and school system best practices for hurricane preparation, mitigation, response, and recovery. It represents the guidance of experts from the private sector, academia, and government.
Protect Louisiana Schools Hurricane Preparedness Commission
Our mission is to empower, fortify, and build.
- EMPOWER school systems and leaders with the tools to protect their facilities pre- and post-hurricane.
- FORTIFY Louisiana's core educational infrastructures.
- BUILD operational best practices for school systems and leaders before, during, and after hurricanes.
Our vision is to secure the educational future of our state and its students.
From 2020 to 2022, Louisiana was catastrophically impacted by six hurricanes — two of which were among the strongest in our state’s history. Many coastal public schools were devastated from the repeated barrage of high winds, torrential rain, and flash floods, resulting in billions of dollars in damages – roofs torn off, hallways flooded, walls collapsed. Our schools just weren’t built to withstand the frequency and scale of these continued natural disasters.
But despite all of this, Louisiana’s students, teachers, administrators, and parents have shown unwavering resilience in the face of extraordinary adversity. They did their part — it's time for us to do ours.
Our commission is an assembly of experts to bring about positive change for our schools.
- Mark Abraham, Louisiana State Senator, District 25
- Ted Beasley, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Louisiana Department of Education
- Kendricks “Ken” Brass, Louisiana State Representative, District 58
- Karl Bruchhaus, Former Superintendent, Calcasieu Parish School Board
- Catherine Cassidey, Principal, Southside High School, Lafayette Parish School System
- Sharon L. Clark, Charter Director, Sophie B. Wright High School
- Tiffany Delcour, Chief Operating Officer, New Schools for New Orleans
- Trey Folse, Assistant Superintendent of System Relations, Louisiana Department of Education
- Dr. Kimberly L. Foster, Dean, School of Science and Engineering, Tulane University
- Dr. Carol J. Friedland, Director, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
- Spencer Harris, Child Welfare & Attendance Supervisor, Livingston Parish
- Matt Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer, Louisiana Department of Education
- Talé D. Lockett, CEO, Algiers Charter School Association
- Philip Martin, Former Superintendent, Terrebonne Parish School District
- Dr. Elizabeth Matthews, Assistant Professor, College of Engineering & Science, Louisiana Tech University
- Kelli Oertling, Principal, Lakewood Elementary School, St. Charles Parish Public Schools
- Mark Richards, Emergency and Security Studies, Tulane University
- Jen Roberts, CEO, Agenda for Children
- Trevis A. Thompson, School Safety Officer, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
- Doris Voitier, Superintendent, St. Bernard Parish Public Schools
- Anna Williamson, Chief Program Officer, Agenda For Children
The Louisiana Department of Education has released its hurricane preparedness playbook for schools. The resource was launched as schools prepare for the peak of hurricane season.
Watch WDSU New Orleans reporter Arielle Brumfield's report on the unveiling of this new resource.