Stephenson Disaster Management Institute (SDMI)

SDMI would not be where it is today without our Dev Team! Appreciation post for all the long hours, early mornings, weekend work, and problem solving this team does on the REGULAR. We appreciate our 5 man team (and their cadre of computer science students) so much (only 2 🤓 ⌨️🖥️ pictured). Technology integration into emergency management would not be possible without this team 🌀 💻!

Our SDMI student workers went to meetings this week at the Louisiana Center for School Safety (LCSS) at the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP). They have been assisting our full time staff with a number of school safety projects for LCSS! It’s always fun to see your work in action! Thankful for our student workers and the ability to provide them with real world experiences! 🏫 ✏️

🥳 Congrats to our very own Chris Rippetoe! Chris recently received his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute 📚 ✏️. Way to Geaux Chris 🐯!! We are incredibly lucky to have such talented managers on staff to support projects and clients!

Heads up to our Louisiana and Texas friends tomorrow - stay weather aware! Listen to locals. 🌪️ 💨 ⚡️

SDMI thanks all Veterans today and everyday! 🇺🇸 We are also particularly appreciative of our Director (Colonel, Army National Guard) and Associate Director (Lieutenant, Army) who served and continue to serve. ❤️🤍💙🐯

to last weekend LSU 🐯 vs Army 🪖! SDMI had a great time hosting a Louisiana themed tailgate 🍤🍛for alumni from the United States Military Academy at West Point. We are grateful for their service, and honored to have been part of their first LSU football 🏈 experience! Pictured: Alumni from West Point Classes of ‘90, ‘94, and ‘02 along with SDMI Staff.

📸 Cred: SDMI Staff FAA Licensed Drone Pilot, Chris Rippetoe.

Saltwater Intrusion Update‼️ For those in the impacted area,listen to your local emergency managers for updates and guidance for the most accurate and up to date information on the event.

The US Army Corps released an updated timeline on the saltwater intrusion that shows delayed impacts to water intake facilities in St. Bernard, Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. Impacts to Plaquemines Parish will continue.

The underwater sill in the Mississippi is performing better than expected. The saltwater wedge has remained stagnant for 10 days. Crews are working to complete the sill, which is 62% complete as of yesterday.

An increased flow in the Mississippi River was also taken into consideration. Projections reflect an updated 28-day forecast showing more rainfall in October than previously expected.

Stay up to date on the latest saltwater emergency response efforts by visiting https://gohsep.la.gov/emergency/Saltwater

‼️ Heads up ⬆️ for a nationwide emergency alert system test🚨 ‼️

IMPORTANT: On Wednesday, Oct. 4th at 2:20 p.m. ET, there will be a nationwide emergency alert test on cell phones, wireless devices, radios, and TVs.

This is a standard test that occurs at least once every three years. No action is needed.

Info & FAQs: fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system/national-test-2023

The SDMI Research Team is ending the week with a splash! 💦 Dr. James Ghawaly and Dr. Robbie Iles are returning from a successful week of collaborations at the 2023 OCEANS Conference. Great networking and opportunities! 🚢 🌊 🛰️

SDMI staff member Ashleigh Dozier role played today assisting in successful delivery of NCBRT’s Active Threat: Integrated Response course. Thanks Ashleigh for being a good sport! 🩹 (Also thank you to SDMI’s Jason Martin, who escaped photos!)

For anyone interested in NCBRT’s training courses, they can be found here: https://www.ncbrt.lsu.edu

Also kudos to our very own parish office of homeland security and emergency preparedness for hosting such a great class! 📚 👮🏻‍♀️

James Ghawaly, SDMI’s very own AI/ML Research Scientist has hit the ground running! Great to see our own experts teach all of the innovative minds on campus at L💜S💛 U!

Some academics fear AI. LSU's provost is leading a class on it To create a syllabus for the new class about artificial intelligence he’s teaching starting fall semester, LSU Vice President and Provost Roy Haggerty fittingly used ChatGPT in a move he

Thank you to JPEM for teaming with SDMI to update the 2023 Parish All Hazards Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) - kudos to this crew for helping pull it all together! This EOC crew, along with all of their EOC partners and parish departments are truly top-notch, we could not have asked for a better team to work with! The SDMI team will miss our Gretna visits! 🌊🌀 ⛈️ 🌪️ 🦠☢️⚠️

The SDMI Software Development Team is in ☀️ San Diego this week attending the ESRI User Conference 🗺️ . Our team is constantly looking for leading edge technology integration 💻 solutions that can be applied to everything Emergency Management! 🌀 🌊 🌩️ 🌪️

Congrats to our Lady Tigers! 🏆🏀💛💜🐯

The LSU Tigers Are National Champions

Geaux Tiger TV! 💛💜 Great reporting and topic for this time of year!

According to Phil, six more weeks of winter! Keep those winter weather emergency plans dusted off, it’s not over just yet! 🦫❄️☃️🌬

Don’t ruin your Sunday with a stalled out vehicle! Turn around if roadways are impassable. 🚗 🌊 The rain will continue here locally, stay weather aware.

Brrrrrr! The southerners need to get out all the🧤🧣winter gear! Freezing temperatures, wind chills and gusty arctic air will arrive later this week. ❄️☃️💨 Prep now to stay warm!

Check your forecast. Freezing temperatures are on the way later this week.

🚨 Another reminder about the approaching severe weather. Stay tuned to your local weather forecasts and local authorities as conditions deteriorate. 🚨

A round of heavy rainfall ☔️ and potential for severe storms 🌩 is headed our way mid week. Stay tuned to local weather forecasts for the most up to date information!

🔊🔊 Announcement about our enterprise at LSU! So grateful to be part of the new Stephenson Security Programs Institute! 🔊🔊

LSU Stephenson National Center for Security Research and Training Becomes Security Programs Institute Motivated by a mindset of growth, and in support of LSU’s Scholarship First Agenda, the Stephenson National Center for Security Research and Training, or SNCSRT, is modernizing its name to become the LSU Stephenson Security Programs Institute, or SPI.

Exciting new tools under development 🛠 🧰 for decision makers!

LSU's Coastal Emergency Risks Assessment tool helps officials decide when to open or close flood gates and roads, evacuate communities, stage resources, and conduct search and rescue missions. LSU researchers are now working to make CERA even more accurate, using AI.

Read more: https://www.lsu.edu/mediacenter/news/2022/09/wfl-coast-musikal-cera.php

Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

Grateful for all Veterans, past and present. Thank you!

Louisiana is lucky to have Devin King in the fight for us! SDMI is fortunate for the continued partnership with his group as we all work together to fight cyber in our own backyard. 🧑🏼‍💻 👮🏻‍♂️ Keep up the great work Devin!

“Cybercrime is flourishing among Louisiana-based networks... Investigating these crimes is a labor-intensive effort, even for the most highly trained analysts. That’s why Louisiana State Police always is looking for new tools and methodologies, such as those developed by LSU, to make the process more efficient.”

—Devin King, Louisiana State Police cybercrime analyst

Read more: https://www.lsu.edu/mediacenter/news/2022/09/wfl-cyber-hooktracer.php

LSU College of Engineering LSU Center for Computation & Technology

💜💛What a night! 💜💛 Our founder, Emmet Stephenson and SDMI Director Brant Mitchell cheered the Tigers onto an incredible victory over bama this weekend! SDMI hosted their Board of Experts this week for the institute’s annual meeting. GEAUX TIGERS! 🐯🏈

We have an entry level Emergency Management planner vacancy! Come join an absolutely awesome team at LSU!

Emergency Management Analyst Coordinator LSU includes institutions, facilities and programs in each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, and its campuses stretch the length of the state from New Orleans to Shreveport. Each institution plays a vital role in preparing students to incorporate new knowledge and technologies into their daily lives. LS...