Harris County Emergency Management Office Wins State Excellence in Preparedness Award

Harris County's emergency management office picked up its second major award in nine months when the SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council presented HCOHSEM with the Regional Healthcare Preparedness Coalition's Excellence in Preparedness Award at its annual RHPC Symposium in Galveston earlier this month.

The recognition, announced March 10 through the ReadyHarris communications portal, cited the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management for "dedication in community involvement, innovation and overall contributions to the field of Emergency Management." SETRAC framed the award as one that "recognizes excellence and commitment to comprehensive emergency management in the regional healthcare community."

The Galveston honor came nine months after HCOHSEM took the Silver Award in Crisis Communications and Issues Management at the 2025 PRSA Houston Excalibur Awards Gala on June 26. That recognition centered on the agency's response to the May 2024 derecho, when FEMA and the Small Business Administration opened financial relief programs and confusion about how to apply threatened to delay assistance to thousands of storm-affected residents. HCOHSEM produced a video and outreach campaign that debuted on ReadyHarris.org and across ReadyHarris social media, then extended the reach through trusted recovery partners across the region. "This award-winning video and outreach campaign ensured residents received accurate, timely guidance when it mattered most," said Mark Sloan, the county's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Coordinator. "It's a testament to the power of collaboration, heart, and high-impact communication." The campaign is credited with empowering thousands of residents to secure assistance quickly, with particular impact among underserved, multilingual, and vulnerable populations.

The SETRAC award also spotlighted two workforce programs that extend HCOHSEM's reach beyond disaster response. The agency's EM Impact program, described by ReadyHarris as "award-winning," has introduced more than 40 young women to career pathways in emergency management. Its long-standing internship program has trained students drawn from across the country, many of whom have gone on to positions at local, state, and federal agencies.

HCOHSEM operates across a jurisdiction the Department of Homeland Security classifies as a Tier 1 region, a designation tied to the county's population of more than 4.7 million residents, its port operations, transportation infrastructure, and concentration of petrochemical plants spread across more than 1,770 square miles. Sloan has built out the county's coordination capabilities through automated flood warning systems, traffic management systems, broadcast media capabilities, and GIS mapping systems, among other tools.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, listed by ReadyHarris as the director of HCOHSEM, has framed the office's mission in terms that go beyond immediate disaster response. "Resilience isn't just about weathering the storm," Hidalgo has said. "It's about making sure every family has the tools to rebuild."

The SETRAC recognition adds to a record that includes the Texas Emergency Management Partnership Recognition for HCOHSEM's Incident Liaison Program, listed among state-level honors by the Texas Division of Emergency Management alongside the Distinguished Volunteer Service Award for Gary Flaharty of Harris County. ReadyHarris described the agency's broader ambition plainly: "HCOHSEM remains dedicated to building a more prepared and resilient Harris County while contributing to the advancement of emergency management nationwide.