Louisiana’s Oil and Gas Industry Prepared for 2014 Hurricane Season

With the 2014 Hurricane Season upon us, Louisiana’s oil and 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 hurricane season begins on June 1st.

“When a storm threatens the Gulf coast, our first priority is protecting the people of Louisiana, including the oil and gas industry workers onshore and offshore,” said Chris John, 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.”

Maintaining a reliable supply of fuel for evacuation and recovery efforts is critical for everyone’s safety during a hurricane. 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 and Gustav, 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 government officials at all levels before and after hurricane season.

“Louisiana is home to 18% of the nation’s refining capacity and with the Gulf of Mexico accounts for about 17% of U.S. oil production,” said John. “Returning operations to normal as quickly and safely as possible is critical not just for the state, but for the entire nation.”

A collaborative relationship between industry and government agencies is imperative for maintaining safe operations and providing fuel to those who need it. LMOGA assists in coordinating communication between member companies and the appropriate local, state, federal and agencies through all stages of a storm. Industry works closely with state and federal emergency officials, local emergency managers, transporters of fuel, and local retail service stations.

“Safety is of paramount importance to Louisiana’s oil and gas industry,” John said. “The entire industry is committed to maintaining safe operations while providing fuel for the public this hurricane season.”

Additional resources:

• LMOGA Fact Sheet: Hurricane Preparations & the Oil and Gas Industry