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The Bureau of Community Preparedness (BCP) uses an all-hazards approach to integrate state and local public health jurisdictions for response to public health threats. The Bureau is organized according to the National Incident Management System, Incident Command Structure (ICS). Components of ICS include command, administration and finance, logistics, operations, and planning. This structure enables efficient management by integrating processes, personnel, communications, and equipment on a daily basis, as well as during emergencies.
BCP is responsible for ensuring that the activities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement Program (42 U.S.C. 247d-3) are carried out as identified in the Bureau's work plan.
The purpose of the PHEP program is to develop emergency-ready public health organizations by upgrading, integrating, and evaluating state and local public health jurisdictions' preparedness for and response to terrorism, pandemic influenza, and other public health emergencies.
To accomplish the goals set forth by the CDC in the PHEP, BCP follows its mission to build healthy communities through prevention, preparedness, and response.
To achieve its mission, BCP works closely with its colleagues, local, state, and national preparedness partners to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action. The Bureau of Community Preparedness has a vision of healthy, safe, and prepared communities.
BCP's core values are respect, teamwork, caring, diversity, equity, inclusion, integrity, credibility, accountability, professionalism, competency, innovation, and knowledge.
Services provided through BCP are a result of the need for improved planning and training given domestic attacks such as 9/11 and catastrophic climate-related disasters. Public health preparedness has grown to include response planning for natural disasters. These disasters include pandemics, outbreaks, ice storms, and flooding, as well as man-made events that include oil and chemical spills and anthrax attacks.
BCP offers public health expertise to its partners during the preparedness phase (i.e., planning, trainings, and exercises) and response phases (i.e., information sharing and medical operations). Moreover, services are provided for local, state, and national partners following the National Response Framework.
Per the State's laws governing emergency response, LDH is the agency primarily responsible for Emergency Support Function (ESF) 8, Public Health and Medical Services, after a disaster. The Bureau of Community Preparedness leads LDH's support in this area. LDH has many state, local, and regional partners who assist in providing the public health response to a disaster.
Some of LDH's partners and stakeholders include other state agencies, like the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Corrections, other health agencies, including the LSU Health Sciences Center, the Louisiana National Guard, and educational systems.
The Bureau of Community Preparedness conducts private training sessions with its ESF-8 partners and stakeholders throughout the year. Because these trainings are highly specialized and detail confidential medical information, these sessions are not open to the general public.
Created in response to the disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Bureau of Community Preparedness built upon existing bioterrorism response initiatives. Those initiatives were expanded to encompass emerging directives from the federal Department of Homeland Security. The bureau is structured as an Incident Command System (ICS) that follows National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) guidelines.
Responsible for maintaining the LDH Emergency Operations Center (LDH EOC) at a constant state of readiness, BCP staff respond 24/7 to incidents occurring across the state, which have the potential to become threats to public health. Through LDH, the Bureau of Community Preparedness leads the State's public health response to disasters.
BCP staff are responsible for providing both training and exercises to LDH employees, volunteers, community partners, and stakeholders on subjects such as hands-on setup of Point of Dispensing Sites (PODs) that are used for distribution of Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) medications.
BCP provides a wide array of logistical support, such as supply trailers and medical equipment for events and incidents as directed by the State Health Officer.