The Louisiana Emergency Operations Plan is intended to provide a general framework within which State agencies, volunteer groups, and private organizations can develop detailed plans and implement procedures. The four phases of emergency management are mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Mitigation includes actions that can be taken to eliminate or reduce the impact of a disaster, such as building codes that recognize hazards faced by the community, public education, hazard vulnerability analysis, and preventive health care. The preparedness phase includes actions taken in advance of an emergency/disaster to develop operational capabilities and help communities to respond to and recover from a disaster. Such measures include the development of plans, procedures, warning and communications systems, continuity of government, mutual aid agreements, and emergency public information and exercises. Response includes actions taken before, during, or after an emergency/disaster to save lives, minimize damages, and enhances recovery operations. These include activation of: emergency operation centers, plans, procedures, emergency alert system, public warning, notification of public officials, provision of mass care, shelter, search and rescue, and security. The recovery phase includes actions taken over the short-term and long-term to return vital life-support systems to minimum standards, and long-term to return life to normal or improved levels. These measures include damage assessment, supplemental Federal assistance to individuals and public entities, assessment of plans and procedures, development of economic impact studies, and methods to mitigate damages. 21 annexes