Today, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome signed a parish-wide Emergency Disaster Declaration related to the City-Parish’s efforts to protect against COVID-19. As of this evening, there are still no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in East Baton Rouge Parish.

By declaring a local public health emergency, Broome aligns the parish with both the presidential and gubernatorial disaster declarations.

With this declaration, East Baton Rouge Parish can request additional assistance, if necessary, from state or federal partners.

Additionally, it triggers FEMA’s ability to assist in paying for actions taken by the local government before, during and after a disaster in order to protect the community.

This is known as FEMA Category B, Emergency Protective Measures. Under a disaster declaration, these measures are funded at a 75% cost share by FEMA. Category B covers costs like overtime, protective equipment, emergency mass care, or other items needed by the local government to protect its citizens.

Tomorrow, MOHSEP will enter into a partial activation and will be staffed from 7am - 7pm, in order to continue management of hazard mitigation and response.