Natural Disaster Preparedness Plan
SAME Houston/Galveston Post
It is the policy of the United States to have an Emergency Mobilization Preparedness Capability that will ensure that government at all levels, in partnership with the private sector and the American people, can respond decisively and effectively to any major national emergency with the defense of the United States as first priority. National Security Council NS DD-47
OVERVIEW
To support government at all levels in their emergency preparedness capabilities, the Houston/Galveston Post of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), in cooperation with its corporate members/firms, has published a Fast Start plan in response to the Society’s commitment to come to the aid of governments and citizens in time of national emergencies, including natural and man made disasters.
Our Fast Start plan outlines how civilian architectural and engineering firms, construction contractors, materials suppliers, and other firms can interact with military and government construction agencies in the Houston/Galveston area to effectively respond to any major emergency. For those in the private sector, you will find names and addresses of organizations you can contact in the event you wish to make your firm known as a resource to support emergency relief or recovery efforts. For those in the public sector, you will find the names and addresses of organizations prepared to support disaster relief who can respond in a disciplined manner to prevent further loss and restore normalcy.
WHAT IS IN THE PLAN?
The plan has historically been a hardcopy updated and distributed to the governmental agencies every year. In response to the internet age, 9/11, and the prescence of a centralized Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HCOEM) website, the Fast Start plan is now strictly electronic. The plan has also been reduced to strictly contact information and response capabilities to avoid duplication of the HCOEM website.
The Fast Start plan contains sustaining member firm emergency response capabilities and experience codes based on the 12 FEMA categories. 24/7 contact information for each Sustaining Member firms who have volunteered to be in the plan is also included.
HOW DO THE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES ACCESS THE INFORMATION?
Integration with Statewide Network (T.R.R.N)
A key lesson that was learned from Hurricane Katrina was that archictectural/engineering/contractor (A/E/C) resources in our Region will likely be damaged, destroyed, or relocated if we receive a direct hit. Response needs would therefore need to come from other Texas Posts or Regions as was the case with Katrina.
The State of Texas Department of Emergency Management (DEM) has implemented a web-based application for responding to disasters called the Texas Regional Response Network, or T.R.R.N. The function of the T.R.R.N. is to provide a central, web-based system to organize and coordinate resources in response to such incidents. The T.R.R.N. is fully searchable and includes an interactive map to locate and track events and available resources. Please take a moment and check out the website.
https://www.trrn.state.tx.us/trrn/index1a.aspx
Currently, the T.R.R.N. database only contains response equipment, but we have been working with Don Galloway of the Texas Forest Service, the administrator of the program for the State, to regularly upload our Post’s A/E/C resources to this database. This will provide single resource for agencies across the state to access available equipment and A/E/C resources.
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
To enter your firms contact and response capability data, simply click on
Online Interactive Questionnaire to fill out and submit the form. Your information will be uploaded to a secure database that is accessable only by members of the Readiness/Homeand Security Committee.
Online Interactive Questionnaire
Even if you have already submitted your firm's contact and response capability information through the old system, please follow the link below to fill out the online questionnaire so we have the most current information to provide to our Public Agency members. If you are unsure whether your firm has previously submitted the info, please refer to the link above.
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?
Darrin Willer, P.E.
Director / Chair
SAME Houston/Galveston Post
Readiness/Homeland Security Committee
