07/21/2009
The Time is Now to Prepare for the Next Hurricane, Say Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Officials
During Hurricane Season, news of any storm approaching the Gulf Coast region is a cue for the Harris County of Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to gear up for a possible landfall.
That multi-jurisdictional agency actually never ceases preparation work for a hurricane or other type of disasters, but the focus at this time of the year is on getting citizens prepared for a major storm, said Francisco Sanchez, HCOEM’s Liaison / Public Information Officer, at the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce’s July 21 General Membership Luncheon.
According to HCOEM’s website, (http://www.hcoem.org/ ) the goal is to “…mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from the effects of disasters, be they natural disasters such as hurricanes or floods, to other hazards such as refinery fire.”
Under HCOEM’s 1,777-square-mile umbrella of coverage are 4 million residents, 1,200 municipal utility districts and public utility districts, 34 cities, 54 fire departments, 125 law enforcement agencies, and 8,800 miles of pipeline.
“Our commitment is to deliver to our residents…not to worry who takes credit for it,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said the HCOEM operates under the National Incident Management System, which is developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
That national system provides a core set of doctrines, concepts, principles, terminology, and organizational processes that enables effective, efficient, and collaborative incident management, according to The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website (http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nims/NIMS_core.pdf ).
Sanchez said the HCOEM has a general emergency operations plan that outlines what each department and participating agency will do in the event of a disaster. The core goals are communication, cooperation and coordination, he said.
There are several responsibilities the HCOEM assumes before, during and after a disaster, including:
• The development and maintenance of that emergency operations plan;
• In the event of a disaster, or pending disaster, the activation and operation of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate and support response and recovery efforts;
• The development of a training program for community volunteers – the Harris County Citizens Corps;
• The development of public outreach programs to spread the word about how to prepare your family for a hurricane or natural disaster;
• The dissemination of information to media outlets, elected officials, stakeholders, residents and HCOEM partners.
The key to success for residents, said Sanchez, is to prepare a disaster supply kit, to create family emergency response plan, to stay informed and to be involved.
“These have been around for awhile, it just took Hurricane Ike to remind us of what we should have done in advance,” Sanchez said.
As for evacuation, the Cy-Fair area and northwest Harris County in general, is a low-risk area so residents are advised to stay put, ride out the storm and then make the decision to stay or leave after the damage has been assessed.
He said the state revised its evacuation plan after millions attempted to leave prior to Hurricane Rita. That plan had been tweaked again in the wake of Hurricane Ike.
The HCOEM is actively involved in hurricane recovery efforts, Sanchez said. After Ike hit the Houston region, 44 points of distribution (PODS) distributed about 1.125 million gallons of water, 10.49 million pounds of ice, and 2.8 million “Meals Ready to Eat” (MREs) in eight days.
“We worked to get information out to the community as quickly as we could,” Sanchez said. “There were 500 people working with us at Transtar (the Emergency Operations Center).”
Sanchez suggested that all residents go to the HCOEM web site - http://www.hcoem.org - to gather additional information about creating a kit and making a plan. A video titled, “Are You Ready?” is also available on DVD and through the site.
Items to include in a disaster supply kit:
- Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
- Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days
Non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices, foods for infants or the elderly, snack foods, non-electric can opener, cooking utensils / fuel, paper plates, plastic utensils - Blankets / Pillows, etc.
- Clothing - seasonal, rain gear, sturdy shoes
- Medical supplies - first aid kit, medicines, prescription drugs
- Special Items - for infants and the elderly
- Toiletries - hygiene items
- Moisture wipes
- Flashlight - extra batteries
- Radio - battery-operated and NOAA weather radio
- Cash - (Banks and ATMs may not be open or available for extended periods.)
- Important documents - in a waterproof
container
Insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, social security card, etc - Keys
- Toys, books and games
- Tools - keep a set with you during the storm
- Vehicle fuel tanks filled
- Pet care items
Proper identification, immunization records, ample supply of food and water, a carrier or cage, medications, muzzle and leash
Creating a Family Emergency Plan:
- Identify an out-of town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
- Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins , or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.
- Teach family members how to use text messaging (also knows as SMS or Short Message Service). Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.
- Subscribe to alert services . Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. Sign up by visiting your local Office of Emergency Management web site .
07/14/2009
Second Annual Chamber Mobility Forum
Transportation planners and experts are expected to travel from near and far (on Cy-Fair’s own Highway 290) to take part in the Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Mobility Forum on Thursday, September 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Berry Center at Barker-Cypress and West roads, 8877 Barker Cypress.
Area businesses and Cy-Fair citizens will have the chance to hear about key mobility issues facing the fast growth in the Cy-Fair region.
The guest speakers of mobility will include ……. and will provide a wealth of information .
“Those involved in the area’s mobility projects and issues will be here to talk about the future of our transportation system,” said Cy-Fair Chamber President Mary Evans. “It promises to be very educational and informative.”
Reservations for this luncheon are required in advance. Underwriters and Sponsorships are available for $2,500 - $600. Individual tickets will also be available for $60. For additional information or reservations, call the Chamber Office at 281.373.1390.
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06/04/2009 2009 Property Values Could Be On Par With 2008, But 2010 Will Be A Different Story
06/01/2009 Bowling went out with a Bang!
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05/01/2009 Committees Offer Bang for the Buck
04/21/2009 Green Squad Says Start Sustainability Effort With ‘Low-Hanging Fruit’
04/21/2009 Law enforcement is looking for a few good sponsors
04/21/2009 Applications due for Salute to Law Enforcement scholarship
04/20/2009 Chamber announces Mary Evans as new President
04/16/2009 Chamber on a roll with Ten Pin Challenge
04/02/2009 Sprint Proudly Presents Salute to Law Enforcement
04/02/2009 Texas economy fares better than most in midst of national recession
04/02/2009 TXDOT officials urges Chamber’s continued support of Cy-Fair area mobility
03/31/2009 Chamber on a Roll with Ten Pin Challenge
03/17/2009 Training Expert Says Building Clients’ Trust Can Boost Sales, Even in Tough Times
03/06/2009 Texas A&M’s Chief Economist Predicts Economic Recovery by Year’s end if Government Gets Moving
03/05/2009 Cy-Fair Area Congressional Representatives Voted Against Economic Stimulus Bill
02/20/2009 Erin Al-Salman resigns as chamber president
02/12/2009 Economic Forecast Luncheon is set for March 6
02/05/2009 Economic Forecast Luncheon Announces Keynote Speaker
02/05/2009 Legislative Staff Members Preview 2009 State Session
01/19/2009 Fifteen Years and Still Going…Chamber Herd Rides Again
01/13/2009 Chamber Leaders Respond to Challending Times with Optimistic Outlook