LSU’s Stephenson Disaster Management Institute Puts Research-Driven Solutions into Emergency Managers’ Hands

In times of hurricanes and other disasters, emergency managers need real-time tools, well-executed plans, and reliable data. LSU has the groundbreaking research and expertise to provide managers with what they need to make faster, smarter decisions.

Since its inception in 2007, LSU’s Stephenson Disaster Management Institute, or SDMI, has served as a bridge between LSU expertise and the needs of Louisiana’s emergency managers, helping to make Louisiana safer for its residents.  

‘Where LSU Research Meets Practice’

When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, the state was unprepared for the scope of the disaster. Levees broke, power grids failed, and communication and evacuation systems collapsed.

But by exposing deep flaws in how Louisiana — and the nation — prepared for and managed disasters, Katrina awakened a determination to fundamentally rethink disaster management.

At LSU, that determination grew into SDMI.

The institute traces its roots to alumni Emmet and Toni Stephenson, who watched LSU play a vital response-and-recovery role during Katrina and Rita and envisioned what LSU could become: a premier university in disaster response management.

In 2007, the Stephensons gave a large donation to LSU to launch a new disaster response management institute that would become SDMI. Their business acumen set the tone for the effort.

“They thought there were business principles that could be applied to disaster management that would improve disaster management for the state,” SDMI Director Brant Mitchell said.

At its start, SDMI functioned like a traditional research center, “just pure academics,” Mitchell said. But as Louisiana faced storm after storm, the institute evolved. Today, it operates more like a solutions lab: an applied hub where LSU’s research expertise is translated into tools, plans, and strategies that emergency managers can use immediately.

That shift from an academic focus to a practitioner focus solidified SDMI’s mission, Mitchell said.

“That's where we kind of brought all this together,” he said. “Our catch phrase is, ‘Where LSU Research Meets Practice,’ and if you think about that, we're kind of that conduit between the LSU research that's taking place here on campus and driving some of that research to influence the disaster community.”

 

Tools That Make a Difference

For example, one of SDMI’s flagship contributions is a Common Operating Picture, a live dashboard that integrates multiple data streams for the governor and the state’s unified command group during disasters. It’s not just maps — it’s building footprints, traffic data, surge models, and real-time flooding predictions, all layered together.

Another tool is a search-and-rescue dashboard that combines LSU’s storm surge models with housing data to predict where people are most likely to be trapped by rising waters. This helps first responders prioritize rescues.

“What it allows is a quick departure with a plan in hand that lets them be more efficient and able to determine where those high priorities are and where they have the most impact to potentially save lives,” Mitchell said.

Beyond real-time tools, SDMI has helped parishes in Louisiana craft Hazard Mitigation Plans — documents FEMA requires for communities to receive federal funds to reduce risks. Since 2019, those plans have unlocked more than $200 million for stronger drainage systems, safer buildings, and other priorities.

The institute also writes and updates Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) for parishes, ensuring that local governments have a roadmap to follow when disaster strikes.

Schools are part of the mission, too. SDMI maps campuses and works with administrators to prepare for such threats as hurricanes, active shooters, chemical spills, and more. In an emergency, first responders can access detailed digital floor plans and other information that could save precious minutes.

“We're totally self-sustained,” Mitchell said. ““All of our funding comes through sponsored programs and contracts, so it is imperative that we deliver.””

The Ingredients for Success at LSU

SDMI’s impact also stems from its small but powerful in-house tech team, including five full-time software engineers — all former SDMI student workers — who work on building new applications.

Because SDMI sits within LSU, it can draw on research strengths in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced flood modeling. Mitchell said this combination is rare. And LSU’s expertise and experience dealing with various types of disasters across Louisiana provide instant credibility.

“Number one, it’s LSU,” he said. "It opens doors, gives us immediate respect to come in and be recognized as subject matter experts, especially in the state of Louisiana.”

One benefit in particular is access to top students in the most relevant areas.

“We're constantly hiring students in computer science. We just hired a student who does AI.  We do a lot of cybersecurity. There's an amazing cybersecurity capacity that's growing here on campus.”

Lauren Stevens, associate director of SDMI, said students are central to SDMI’s model, and it’s mutually beneficial.

“LSU is great for us, but I feel we're such a great opportunity for our student workers,” she said, “because they're not just running errands; they're not just doing administrative stuff. These students are working on real-world projects.

“So they get to turn around and put that on their resume. So, by the end of their time here, they have a pretty good resume of projects to help them going into the real world, too.”

Faculty benefit, too, gaining access to emergency managers who can put their research into practice. This back-and-forth keeps LSU’s disaster science grounded in real-world scenarios.

Value for Louisiana

While its disaster management role may not always be apparent to Louisiana residents, SDMI’s fingerprints are everywhere: in the rescue boat that reaches a flooded home, in the school plan that keeps the state’s children safe, in the parish plan that brings millions in federal dollars to protect neighborhoods.

As Louisiana faces risks both new and old, SDMI continues to evolve. By tapping LSU’s expertise in AI and cyber research, the institute is building tools for tomorrow’s emergencies. It’s also playing a role in shaping FEMA reforms that could change disaster management across the U.S. 

Stevens was asked to provide staffing support to the President’s Council to Assess FEMA, offering LSU a unique opportunity to help shape the dialogue on potential reforms aimed at making FEMA more efficient and effective across all areas of emergency management.

What began as a response to Katrina has become something far bigger — LSU-led innovation that makes Louisiana smarter, faster, and safer when disaster strikes.

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