State closes storm drills to media

• By AMY WOLD
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: May 9, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Three days of hurricane preparedness drills by local, state and federal representatives were closed to the media this week in Baton Rouge.

The hurricane preparedness drills, which end today, are held to cover hypothetical situations and to promote discussions about issues such as contraflow traffic plans, public information efforts, shelters and more.

Mark Cooper, director of the state Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said the number of new people involved in the process year was a factor in the decision to exclude the media. He said the drills are meant to foster a “learning environment” for participants and officials didn’t want the disruption by allowing media observers.

Participants need to learn their roles and make decisions just as they will during a hurricane, he said.

“We want them to feel free to do that without someone writing it down,” Cooper said.

When asked if that meant the media exclusion was to prevent anyone from being embarrassed by decisions or questions they asked, Cooper said that’s not the reason at all.

“This is a learning exercise,” he said. “I can’t explain myself any better than that. That’s the reason.”

Allison Hadley Morgan, assistant public information officer with the state Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said the decision to exclude media from this training is not unusual.

For at least the past three years, the media hasn’t been allowed to observe the training, she said. Instead, there have been photo opportunities offered along with a news conference, she said. This year, the drill didn’t include those media events because the time was needed for training, she said.

 “They really don’t want any interruptions,” she said.

Although interviews after the fact could be arranged, she said, media presence at the actual drill would not be allowed.

The “official kickoff” for the state’s hurricane preparedness campaign is scheduled for May 22, Cooper said.

Part of that campaign will involve working closely with the media and providing information, he said.