NCJ Number
213245
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 73 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2006 Pages: 36-38,40-44,46-48,50
Date Published
February 2006
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article describes procedures of the collaboration and coordination among New Jersey, Louisiana, and Federal officials under the Louisiana Emergency Assistance Deployment (Operation LEAD) in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.
Abstract
Written from the perspective of New Jersey officials involved in Operation LEAD, this article describes the interagency protocols that enabled some 600 New Jersey State troopers and local and county police officers from 112 New Jersey law enforcement agencies--accompanied by fire service, emergency medical technicians, and a mobile relief team from the Salvation Army--to respond to emergency needs in New Orleans after Katrina. The New Jersey law enforcement personnel conducted day and night patrols in three New Orleans police districts that were heavily damaged by flooding and high winds. Over a period of 5 weeks, Operation LEAD personnel searched 7,989 residences, rescued 67 stranded residents, and assisted 174 residents who were sheltered in place. They assisted in the recovery of 117 bodies, rescued 274 animals, and performed 2,050 deliveries of food and water to residents who chose to remain in their homes. There were more than 4,300 decontaminations of emergency workers and vehicles. Patrols handled more than 4,400 telephone calls to 911 operators. This article describes New Jersey's statewide collaboration and coordinated response that made Operation LEAD possible. Sections of this article describe Operation LEAD's structure and purpose, the caravan of vehicles that traveled from New Jersey to New Orleans, housing and food for LEAD personnel, interagency communications in New Orleans, and patrol operations. Other topics discussed are personnel safety and protection, criminal intelligence operations, animal rescues, and the lessons learned from Operation LEAD. The lessons learned pertain to interagency preparation and response in massive disasters, the importance of including house pets in disaster and evacuation plans, and the necessity of a collaborative military and law enforcement response.