Texas preparing for hurricane season

Following the massive evacuation of coastal residents fleeing Hurricane Rita and the thousands from other coastal states who fled to Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the state has worked to capture lessons learned and best practices hoping that Texas might become a model for other coastal states facing similar disasters. Evacuation routes are now defined and there are procedures in place to make extra fuel available when needs arise. Preparations have been made for ensuring that handicapped and disabled - and even family pets - are cared for and logistics have been designed for opening and staffing disaster shelters.

Although hurricanes generally do the most damage in coastal areas, a need for planning in other areas of the state was evidenced by the number of people who fled these regions. And local officials discovered that some of the best resources are local. Local firms and organizations handled healthcare needs, furnished food, bottled water, construction materials, generators, transportation needs and communication systems.

It is important for companies to know that pre-registration with governmental entities is often required before products and services can be purchased. Some governmental agencies (the Federal Emergency Management Agency - FEMA - and others) also have a procurement qualification process. Things move quickly in the wake of a disaster - from cleanup to rebuilding to caring for those who have suffered as a result of the disaster - so it is important for vendors offering services and products to also be prepared.

Vendors should contact emergency preparedness officials in cities and counties to find out how to qualify as a service or product provider in the event of a disaster. Vendors should also know in advance which state agencies and what resources will be deployed by the GDEM when tragedy strikes - and what products and services they might want to procure. Registration with federal entities should be done in advance of a disaster as well, including registering for FEMA's preferred vendor lists.

Last year's hurricane season was relatively light for Texans, with only one hurricane making landfall on the Texas Coast. Hurricane Humberto formed and intensified faster than any other tropical storm on record, making landfall at High Island within 18 hours of its formation. Fortunately, the storm weakened as it moved on shore and even with its 90 mile per hour winds, caused damages of only $50 million.

No one can predict what might occur but officials estimate that if a hurricane of the same magnitude as Hurricane Katrina were to hit the Galveston area, some 5.6 million people in 14 counties could be affected. During the aftermath of Katrina and Rita, government entities realized the importance of advance preparation. And they also realized the importance of public-private partnerships. Partnerships not only rebuild communities, they also save lives, offer comfort and provide for temporary relief of all types.