Disasters such as hazardous materials accidents, terrorist acts, aircraft crashes, and can and do occur everywhere, including in Northeast Harris and Southeast Montgomery Counties. This area is geographically located in a significant disaster risk zone. Within the area are numerous railroad lines, a major interstate highway, an International airport, several primary storm drainage channels, including the San Jacinto River, and a population in excess of 150,000.
The area is located on the southern edge of the northern most portion of Harris County and is affected by hurricane tidal storm surges. The area lies directly in a corridor through which storm evacuations of the Galveston/Brazoria County region is planned. In 2005, such an evacuation moved in excess of 1 million persons into or through the area. This area has and will likely continue to experience flash flooding on a massive scale. Past tropical storms have dropped 20 inch or greater rainfalls resulting in widespread local flooding. There is no indication that disaster incidents affecting the area will diminish in number or impact. Regional population growth, tropical storm trends, and geo-political conditions may even lead to increases in the risk of disaster.
Over the past years, four declared disasters, tropical storm Allison in 2001, the evacuations during Hurricane Katrina and later during Hurricane Rita, both in 2005 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017, have taxed area capability to cope with relief efforts for displaced persons. Government, faith-based groups, private enterprises, and local citizens put forth extraordinary efforts to provide basic needs for displaced persons when those arose. These incidents brought to light deficiencies in regional preparedness for sheltering large numbers of evacuees/refugees. Reviews of response during these incidents revealed there was often insufficient communication and coordination between the many entities drawn into those efforts. This sometimes resulted in waste or misdirection of resources during times when the need was greatest.
CRTF members employ knowledge and skills acquired through their professions, volunteer activities and past-times to support the community during an emergency. Monthly meetings also offer opportunities to enhance individual and community preparedness. As governmental and non-governmental entities work to enhance preparedness, so must we. Success often depends on initial community response. You can make a critical contribution to our success.
During these events, national, state and local governments, faith-based organizations, private enterprises and community members collaborated to address response and recovery and provide basic needs to individuals. Effective communication and coordination are critical components to a successful response. CRTF partners assisted by augmenting communication capacity through ham radio, conducting water rescues, serving at points of distribution (PODS) that provided food and clothing and filing in where needed.
People survive best in groups. Seventy-five percent of all disaster-related rescues are made by neighbors, friends and family. Our biggest asset in disaster survival is a good personal network of people, like CRTF. Our group cares about you and who you care about.
Having your families and friends prepared for a disaster is one of the best ways to ensure your own survival, in short- and long-term disasters.