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Monday 7:30am - 5pm Tuesday 7:30am - 5pm Wednesday 7:30am - 5pm Thursday 7:30am - 5pm Friday 7:30am - 11:30am

Ascension Parish Homeland Security (OHSEP)

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Gonzales, LA
Ascension Parish Homeland Security (OHSEP)

Ascension Parish OHSEP Website: www.ascensionparish.net/departments/homeland-security/

09/09/2026

Hurricane Preparedness: Pet Safety 🐾

When preparing for a hurricane, don’t forget to include your pets in your family’s emergency plan. Having their supplies ready ahead of time can make an evacuation, extended power outage, or other emergency much easier to manage.

Remember these important pet preparedness tips:
• Pack a 7-to-10-day supply of food and water for each pet. Keep food in a sealed, waterproof container and include food and water bowls.
• Keep at least a two-week supply of necessary medications, along with vaccination records, medical information and your veterinarian’s contact information in a waterproof bag.
• Make sure each pet has a secure carrier or crate, sturdy leash or harness, and a collar with current identification tags.
• Check your pet’s microchip information and make sure your current phone number and contact information are registered.
• Include sanitation supplies such as waste bags, paper towels, pet-safe wipes, and a portable litter box and litter for cats.
• Pack a few familiar comfort items, such as treats, a favorite toy, bed or blanket.
• Keep recent photos of your pets both on your phone and with your emergency supplies in case you become separated.
• If you evacuate, take your pets with you. Plan ahead by identifying pet-friendly accommodations or shelters and keep carriers and supplies somewhere they can be quickly loaded.
• If you shelter at home, bring pets indoors before conditions begin to deteriorate and keep them secure throughout the storm.

Preparing for hurricane season means preparing the whole family. Take time now to build a pet emergency kit, update identification, and make a plan for your pets in the case of a storm.

09/02/2026

Hurricane Preparedness: Generator Safety

During hurricane season, generators can provide critical backup power during an outage—but improper use can quickly become dangerous.

⚠️ Remember these important safety tips:
• Always operate portable generators outdoors and at least 20 feet away from your home, with the exhaust pointed away from doors, windows and vents.
•Never operate a generator inside a home, garage, basement, crawl space or other enclosed area.
•Keep several feet of clear space around the generator for proper ventilation.
•Make sure your home has working carbon monoxide detectors on every level and outside sleeping areas.
•Keep generators dry and protected from rain and wet conditions.
•Turn the generator off and allow it to cool completely before refueling.
•Use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cords and never overload the generator.
•Never plug a generator directly into a wall outlet. This can cause dangerous backfeeding and put utility workers and others at risk. A properly installed transfer switch should be used when connecting a generator to your home's electrical system.

Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and can become deadly within minutes. Taking a few precautions before the power goes out can help keep your household and our community safe throughout hurricane season.

09/01/2026

September is National Preparedness Month!

This year’s theme, “Americans Stand Ready,” highlights the importance of being prepared before disaster strikes and reminds us that readiness begins with each of us.

Here in Ascension Parish, preparedness is especially important during hurricane season. Our Ascension Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP) works year-round to prepare for potential emergencies, coordinate response efforts, monitor threats, and provide residents with reliable information when severe weather impacts our community.

Preparedness starts at home, and there are a few important steps every household can take:

Know your risk.
Understand the types of emergencies that could affect our area, including hurricanes, flooding, severe weather, and extended power outages.

Make a family emergency plan.
Know where you’ll go, how you’ll communicate, and what you’ll do if you need to evacuate or shelter in place.

Build an emergency supply kit.
Have enough water, nonperishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, important documents, pet supplies, and other essentials to get your household through an emergency.

Stay informed.
Follow trusted sources for weather and emergency information and make sure you’re registered for Everbridge emergency alerts.

Emergencies can happen quickly, but taking a few steps now can make a major difference when it matters most.

Throughout National Preparedness Month, we encourage every Ascension Parish resident to take a look at their household plan, restock their supplies, and make preparedness a priority!

08/26/2026

Hurricane Preparedness: Know How to Report Property Damage

After a hurricane or other significant weather event, reporting damage to your property is an important part of the recovery process.

Damage.LA.Gov, a virtual damage reporting system launched by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), allows Louisiana residents to self-report damage following hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, winter weather, and other disasters.

When it is safe to do so, keep these tips in mind when reporting damage:
✔️Take clear photos of all damage before beginning cleanup or making temporary repairs.
✔️Document damage to your home, vehicles, structures, and other property.
✔️Provide accurate information about the location and extent of the damage.
✔️Keep photos, receipts, insurance information, and other important documentation for your records.
✔️Remember that submitting a damage report is not the same as filing an insurance claim. ✔️Contact your insurance provider separately when appropriate.

Report property damage at Damage.LA.Gov

What about storm debris?

Following a storm, Ascension Parish Government will provide residents with information on how to report storm debris that needs to be collected.

Knowing where to report damage before a storm happens is one more way to make sure you and your family are prepared for hurricane season!

08/19/2026

Hurricane Preparedness: Never Underestimate Rising Water

During hurricanes and severe weather, flooding can happen quickly, and even a small amount of moving water can become extremely dangerous.

If you encounter a flooded roadway, never assume the water is shallow enough to cross. Floodwater can hide washed-out pavement, debris, downed power lines, and other hazards, and water levels and currents can change rapidly.

Never drive around barricades or road closure signs, and do not attempt to walk, swim, or drive through moving floodwater. If a roadway is closed, there is a reason.

When severe weather threatens, stay alert, monitor trusted weather and emergency updates, and give yourself plenty of time to reach a safe location!

08/12/2026

Hurricane Preparedness: Trust Reliable Sources

When severe weather threatens, misinformation can spread just as quickly as the storm itself. That's why it's important to get your weather updates and emergency information from trusted, official sources—not rumors, unverified social media posts, or unofficial forecasts.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, rely on:
Ascension Parish Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP) for local emergency updates, response information, and sandbag locations.

Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office for road closures, public safety updates, and emergency notifications.

National Weather Service (NWS) for official watches, warnings, forecasts, and weather alerts.

National Hurricane Center (NHC) for the latest information on tropical systems in the Gulf of Mexico.

Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) for statewide emergency information.

Don't forget to sign up for Everbridge, Ascension Parish's official emergency alert system. Everbridge delivers important notifications directly to your phone, email, or other devices, helping you stay informed about severe weather, emergency situations, evacuations, road closures, and other critical public safety information.

Being prepared starts with being informed. Before sharing weather information, take a moment to verify it's coming from a trusted source. Accurate information helps you make the best decisions to protect yourself, your family, and your community.

08/05/2026

🌀 Hurricane Preparedness: Terminology 🌀

Understanding the difference between a tropical depression, tropical storm, and hurricane can help you better understand forecasts and make informed decisions as a system develops.

A tropical depression is an organized tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less. Even at this stage, a system can produce heavy rainfall, localized flooding, gusty winds, and dangerous conditions.

Once maximum sustained winds reach 39 mph, the system becomes a tropical storm and receives an official name. Tropical storms can bring damaging winds, tornadoes, storm surge, and significant flooding—especially when they move slowly or produce prolonged rainfall.

A system becomes a hurricane when maximum sustained winds reach at least 74 mph. Hurricanes are then classified from Category 1 through Category 5 based on wind speed. However, the category only measures wind strength; it does not reflect other serious threats such as storm surge, rainfall flooding, or tornadoes.

Remember: every tropical system should be taken seriously, regardless of its classification. Impacts can extend far beyond the storm’s center, and conditions can change quickly.

Stay weather-aware, review your emergency plan, prepare your supplies, and always follow guidance from trusted local and official weather sources. Being informed today can help keep you and your family safe when severe weather threatens!

07/29/2026

Hurricane Preparedness: Protect Your Documents 📂

When preparing your home for hurricane season, don't forget to protect something that can't be replaced—your important documents.

Store original copies of important documents in a waterproof container and keep digital copies in a secure cloud storage service or on a password-protected external drive. Having both physical and digital copies ensures you can access critical information even if the originals are lost or damaged.

Before a storm threatens our area:

📸 Document Your Property
Take clear, up-to-date photos and videos of your home's interior and exterior, along with valuable belongings. This creates a record of your property before any damage occurs and can help support insurance claims after the storm.

📁 Protect Important Documents
Gather and secure copies of:
• Insurance policies
• Bank and financial information
• Social Security cards
• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Passports
• Other legal or identification documents

After a disaster, these documents may be required to:
• File homeowners, renters, or flood insurance claims
• Apply for FEMA or other disaster assistance
• Access bank accounts and financial records
• Replace lost identification
• Verify property ownership or residency
• Refill medications
• Reunite with or board pets if you're forced to evacuate

Preparation doesn't stop when the winds begin—it starts long before a storm is in the forecast. Taking a few minutes now to organize and protect your documents can save countless hours, reduce stress, and help your family recover more quickly if disaster strikes!

07/27/2026

Weather Update:

Potentially dangerous heat conditions with heat index values in the neighborhood of 110°-112° F.

July 27, 2026 from 11AM to 8PM

Heat illness can occur quickly. Hot temperatures and high humidity will occur today and the combination could quickly lead to heat illness if precautions aren’t taken.

Stay Safe Ascension!

07/22/2026

TS Bertha update: July 22, 2026 PM

TS Bertha made landfall in St. Bernard Parish around 2:00PM.

It continues to move westward through SE LA and will bring minor to moderate impacts to the area through midday Thursday.

Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms could linger
into the Thursday afternoon afternoon.

Minor to moderate storm surge flooding, with some low lying coastal roads becoming impassable.

Tropical storm winds (mainly gusts) could down a few tree limbs and/or lead to isolated power outages.

High rainfall rates in any storms that do affect land areas could lead to localized flooding.

Address

828 South Irma Boulevard
Gonzales, LA
70737

Opening Hours

Monday	7:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	7:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	7:30am - 5pm
Thursday	7:30am - 5pm
Friday	7:30am - 11:30am

Telephone

+12256218360

Website

http://www.ascensionparish.net/departments/homeland-security/

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