Disaster Preparedness and Response
In a state with 367 miles of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, nearly 7,000 square miles of water and more than 260,000 square miles of land area, Texas is no stranger to natural threats like hurricanes, wildfires and flooding. Under Gov. Perry’s direction, the state’s Department of Homeland Security coordinates efforts to prepare for and recover from disasters.
Key Initiatives
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Disaster Preparedness
No state is more prepared than Texas to handle the full spectrum of threats, which include terrorist attacks, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, pandemic flu and infectious disease. These threats require constant planning, organizing, equipping, training and exercising at every level to optimally protect nearly 24 million Texans, and the state’s critical infrastructure and key resources.
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Disaster Recovery
With 367 miles of coastline, Texas is no stranger to the approach and impact of hurricanes. In 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Gov. Perry designated the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) as the state’s lead agency for housing disaster recovery. Since that time, TDHCA has awarded $405 million in housing funds for southeast Texas recovery, provided long-term affordable housing solutions for over 100,000 Katrina evacuees; and financed the placement of approximately 150 units of pre-fabricated modular housing through an alternative housing pilot program.
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Pandemic Flu Preparations
As part of the state’s emergency response plans, Governor Perry has taken specific steps to help prepare Texas for a potential influenza outbreak. With a state the size of Texas, both geographically and in population, it is of critical importance that a response to an outbreak of pandemic flu be efficient and effective.
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