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Special Needs Evacuation

Special Needs Evacuation. Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Larry Mousseau (713) 881-3100 larry.mousseau@oem.hctx.net. Texas 2-1-1. What is 2-1-1? A service of the Health and Human Service Commission's Texas Information and Referral Network

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Special Needs Evacuation

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  1. Special Needs Evacuation Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Larry Mousseau (713) 881-3100 larry.mousseau@oem.hctx.net

  2. Texas 2-1-1 • What is 2-1-1? • A service of the Health and Human Service Commission's Texas Information and Referral Network • 2-1-1 Texas helps you find free information on services in your area providing: • Food • Shelter • Rent assistance • Utility bill assistance • Etc. Another service 2-1-1 helps with is the TAR – Transportation Assistance Registry

  3. State TAR Initiative • Individuals must dial 2-1-1 to enroll in the TAR. • 2-1-1 is free, confidential and calls are answered by multilingual specialists 24 hours a day, seven days a week. • The call taker asks a series of scripted questions that include: name, address, medical needs, pets, etc. Once the information is submitted there is no editing or search rights.

  4. Local TAR Initiative • The 2-1-1 TAR database is updated annually. • All registrants are sent a notice in the mail reminding them to re-register at the first of the year. This ensures that the most current and valid information is listed in the database. • After the initial reminder letter has been sent, a secondary letter is mailed notifying the registrant if they are or are not in an evacuation zone. A “Hurricane Preparedness” brochure and “Hurricane Evacuation Zone” map is sent with the letter.

  5. Warning & Public Information • The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will coordinate warning messages for people to be evacuated. • 2-1-1 takes calls until H-24 and then 3-1-1 will begin taking theses calls. 3-1-1 will be established at this time for those individuals who failed to pre-register and require assistance with transportation to evacuate.

  6. Harris County EOC

  7. Why is it so important to listen to warnings to evacuate?? • Wind • Storm Surge • Heavy Rainfall / Flooding • Tornadoes

  8. Special Needs Population The state defines those individuals with special needs as “Any individual who cannot self-evacuate.” • They divided those individuals into two basic categories: those with medical special needs and those with transportation needs.

  9. Special Needs Levels • Level 0 – Persons without transportation. • Level 1 – Persons dependent on others or in need of others for routine care. • Level 2 – Persons with disabilities such as blind, hearing impaired, amputee, deaf/blind • Level 3 – Persons needing assistance with medical care administration, monitoring by a nurse, dependent on equipment, assistance with medications, or medical health disorders.

  10. Evacuation • State law provides a county judge or mayor with the authority to order the evacuation of all or part of the population from a stricken or threatened area within their respective jurisdictions. • The following facilities will be used as the Hub for each city: • City of Houston – George R. Brown Convention Center • City of Baytown – San Jacinto Mall • Back up for City of Baytown – Stallworth Stadium • City of Pasadena – Pasadena Convention Center

  11. Transportation Collection points will be communicated to the evacuee when the pickup is scheduled. Metro arranges pickup for the evacuees.

  12. Registration & Tracking at the HUB • Registration will be done at the GRB to capture the basic demographics of the evacuating special needs individuals and assign a unique identification number to aid in tracking the individual and their belongings i.e. suitcase, pet carrier, or wheel chair. • Individuals will be registered and given a wrist band, which will be scanned when loaded onto departure transportation. This scanning system is known as Emtrack.

  13. Departure • Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening will be required prior to boarding. • There is a traffic plan for individuals who are able to self-evacuate.High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes will be designated for emergency vehicle traffic including evacuation buses. • Air departure locations could be either the George Bush International Airport (IAH) or the William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).

  14. •Evacuees will be allowed to travel with their pets. •The pets are to remain secure in an appropriate carrier.•At the reception area, individuals with pets will be separated from those without pets. Registration and departure transportation boarding of these groups will be done separately to minimize any public health.

  15. Return of Evacuees • Return of evacuees to their homes or businesses in evacuated areas requires the same consideration, coordination, and control as the original evacuation.

  16. The following conditions should prevail in the evacuated area before evacuees are authorized to return: • Sufficient debris has been removed to permit travel and public roads and bridges are safe to use. • Downed power lines have been removed; ruptured gas, water, and sewer lines have been repaired; and other significant safety hazards have been eliminated. • Structures have been inspected and determined to be safe to reoccupy. • Waste water utilities must be available.

  17. Questions? Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management 713-881-3100 For More Information, Please Visit our Website: www.hcoem.org

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