The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) is monitoring the course of tropical storm Sam which formed today. Based on current forecasts from the National Hurricane Center, Sam will not be a threat to Texas or the Gulf Coast. Tropical Storm Sam is the 18thnamed storm in the Atlantic Hurricane Season which ends November 30, 2021. HCOHSEM urges residents to check their emergency kits and review their emergency plans. Stay informed by following HCOHSEM […]
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Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management 2020 Annual Report: “A Year Like No Other”
Harris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) releases its 2020 Annual Report. HCOHSEM had a strong year in spite of the global challenges presented by COVID-19. – In a year of unprecedented challenges with the outbreak of the Coronavirus – the greatest test of our organization – HCOHSEM responded with flexibility, resilience, and commitment. Last year, Harris County activated its Emergency Operation Center 22 times and received 2,066 media inquiries and 11,378 broadcast, social media, […]
Harris County raises COVID threat meter to ‘Severe’
Today, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo updated the county’s COVID-19 public threat level from Significant (orange, Level 2) to Severe (red, Level 1). Level 1 indicates a “severe and uncontrolled” level of COVID-19, meaning outbreaks are worsening, contact tracing capacity is strained or exceeded, and healthcare surge is likely. The elevation to threat level 1 – the highest in the system – comes as a variety of data demonstrate alarming trends that are on track […]
HCOHSEM, MOPD and Sight Into Sound Create Emergency Preparedness Tips for Blind and Visually Impaired Community
The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM), in collaboration with the Houston Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and Sight Into Sound, have developed emergency preparedness tips for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The partnership is designed to ensure that the blind and visually impaired have 24/7 access to emergency preparedness information in audio formats spoken in both English and Spanish. The messages explain what to do during […]
Harris County’s ‘StoryMap’ wins EMAT Technology & Innovation Award
The Emergency Management Association of Texas (EMAT) honored the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) with the Technology and Innovation Award at its annual symposium held virtually this week. HCOHSEM is one of many entities that have faced the unprecedented challenge of locally managing the COVID-19. As the emergency management agency for the third largest county in the nation, HCOHSEM created the COVID-19 StoryMap to create awareness and educate the public […]
‘Extremely Active’ 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Comes to an End
November 30th marked the official end of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, which was one for the record books before it even officially started. The season produced 31 tropical depressions, of which 30 became tropical storms and 13 became hurricanes, including six major hurricanes. In all, 12 tropical cyclones made landfall on United States coastlines. Only Hurricane Hanna and Tropical Storm Beta made landfall in Texas. As the 2020 hurricane season comes to an end, […]
HCOHSEM, MOPD and Deaf Link Create Preparedness and Safety Videos for Deaf and Hard Of Hearing Community
The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM), in collaboration with the Houston Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and Deaf Link, have developed preparedness and safety videos for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The partnership is designed to ensure that the deaf and hard of hearing community has access to preparedness and emergency information via sign language interpreting, with English and Spanish subtitles. These videos are one […]