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.

LDH Emergency Preparedness Leadership

Ricky Montet, Executive Director 
ricky.montet@la.gov 

William "Billy" Migues, Deputy Director/ESF-6 Lead
william.migues@la.gov 

Dr. Natasha Seals, Deputy Director/ESF-8 Lead
natasha.seals@la.gov 

Kimberly Leep, Deputy Director/Administrative Finance Chief (6 & 8)
kimberly.leep@la.gov 

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

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

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