Industry Prepares for Hurricane Laura

With Hurricane Laura approaching landfall on the Gulf Coast, Louisiana’s oil and natural gas industry is prepared to ensure the safety of our employees, the environment, and the communities in which we work from the impacts of a storm. Oil and gas facilities take great care developing detailed hurricane response plans long before a storm enters the Gulf.

“Our industry’s first priority is protecting the people of Louisiana, including the oil and natural gas industry workers onshore and offshore,” said Lori LeBlanc, Interim President of LMOGA. “From the first sign of a potential storm, appropriate phased responses are initiated in a precise, controlled manner and decisions are made based on the best available storm data. This includes efforts to minimize impacts to the environment caused by storms and a commitment to safely and quickly bringing operations back to normal to continue providing the energy needed for the nation.”

“Maintaining a reliable supply of fuel for evacuation and recovery efforts is critical for everyone’s safety during a hurricane,” said LeBlanc. “Careful planning helps industry safely provide fuel for citizen evacuations, emergency agencies, hospitals and other critical infrastructure to keep the state operating safely.”

Building upon lessons learned from past storms, like Katrina, Ike and Rita, companies are continuously improving preparation and response plans to lessen storm impacts and shorten the time it takes to recover. Plans are constantly updated and improved year-round, not just when a storm is at our doorstep. Regular planning meetings are held with local, state and federal government before and after hurricane season.

“Safety is of paramount importance to Louisiana’s oil and gas industry and the entire industry is committed to maintaining safe operations while providing fuel for the public before, during and after Hurricane Laura,” said LeBlanc.