The document provides information on emergency management in Texas, including guidelines on handwashing and staying home when sick to prevent the spread of illness. It also outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) in coordinating emergency response at the state level. TDEM works with local governments and disaster districts to respond to incidents and request state or federal assistance when needed.

1. • Wash your hands with soap, often.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose & mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze.
• Stay home when you are sick.

3. TDEM 101

5. EM Defined
[in a government context]: The managerial function
within the government charged with creating and
maintaining the framework within which our
community reduces vulnerability to hazards and
copes with disaster.
Pursuant to
Chapter 418 of Texas Government Code,
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act,
and other local, State and Federal authorities as applicable.

6. Purpose
q Save lives.
q Protect from injury.
q Minimize property damage and economic loss.
q Protect the environment.
q Elevate the community to a state of existence that
makes it more resilient than before.

7. TDEM’s Mission
As the State’s emergency management agency…
TDEM is charged with carrying out a comprehensive
all-hazard emergency management program for the
State and for assisting cities, counties, and state
agencies in planning and implementing their
emergency management programs.

8. Origin
• 1951: Texas Civil Protection Act of 1951 established the Division
of Defense and Disaster Relief in the Governor’s Office to handle
civil defense and disaster response programs
• 1963: Co-located with Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• 1973: Renamed Division of Disaster Emergency Services
• 2005: Designated an operating division of the Texas Department
of Public Safety in 2005
• 2009: Legislation formally changed name to the Texas Division of
Emergency Management
• 2019: Moved to the Texas A&M University System as stand-
alone state agency under TAMUS

9. Key State Authorities
•Chapter 418 Texas Govt Code
•Chapter 421 Texas Govt Code
•Chapter 433 Texas Govt Code
•Governor’s Executive Order, GA-05
•Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Part 1, Ch. 7
•State of Texas Emergency Management Plan

10. Select Statutes
o Ultimate responsibility for dealing with disasters is assigned to the
Governor; grants him/her emergency powers that can be used during
disasters
various sections, Texas Govt Code, Chapter 418
o Creation of the State Emergency Management Council to advise and
assist in all things “emergency management”, in all phases
Texas Govt Code, Sec. 418.013
o Requires a comprehensive State emergency management plan, which
is to be developed & maintained by TDEM
Texas Govt Code, Secs. 418.042 & 418.0425

11. • Activate local emergency management plans, provides
Mayor/County Judge authority to order evacuations or establish
secure zones/curfews, and other powers as afforded by local
City/County ordinances
Select Statutes
o Prescribes the presiding officer of the governing body of an
incorporated city or a county or the chief administrative officer of a
joint board as the EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR for their
political subdivision
• Gives them certain emergency powers as given to the Governor,
just on an appropriate local scale
• Allows them to appoint an EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
COORDINATOR, to assist in all things EM
Texas Govt Code, Secs. 418.1015 & 418.108
o A Mayor or County Judge may declare a Local Disaster

12. Select Statutes
o Requires that cities look first to local resources, including county
resources, prior to seeking state assistance
Texas Govt Code, Sec. 418.102 / Annex N of State EM Plan /
Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Part 1, Chapter 7, Rule 7.23
o Creation of the Statewide Mutual Aid System; does not supplant any
current and existing mutual aid agreements (< 12 hours)
Texas Govt Code, Sec. 418.111

13. How TDEM Is Funded
•The state of Texas funds TDEM approximately ~$10
million
•Federal government preparedness grants provide
approximately $20 million to TDEM (around $6
million is passed to jurisdictions)
•Other federal grants supply about $1.7 million for
dedicated programs (HMEP, WIPP, Pantex)
•Included in the budget is approximately $1.3-$2
billion in disaster grant funding that is passed
through to affected jurisdictions (amounts vary
greatly on # of disasters)

14. Major Disaster Declarations Since 1953*
*As of 9/11/19
10. Iowa 63
9. Arkansas 63
8. Alabama 64
7. Kentucky 65
6. Louisiana 67
5. Florida 72
4. New York 73
3. Oklahoma 86
2. California 97

15. Major Disaster Declarations Since 1953
*As of 9/11/19
1. TEXAS 98
EMER 13
FMAG* 243
TOTAL 354
• The Lone Star State has recorded
98 Major Disasters in 66 years.

16. 1 every
~8 months

17. Disaster Declaration Threshold
• To qualify for federal assistance after a disaster, states must meet a
pre-established, population based damage threshold
Thresholds (FY2020)
Texas $ 38,472,708
Arkansas $ 4,461,354
Louisiana $ 6,936,059
Oklahoma $ 5,739,567
New Mexico $ 3,150,543

18. Incident Management in Texas
• Incidents begin and end locally, and are managed on a
daily basis at the closest possible geographical,
organizational, and jurisdictional level

19. Local Governments
• Local governments (counties, cities, or towns) respond to
emergencies daily using their own resources
• They rely on mutual aid and assistance agreements with
neighboring jurisdictions
• When local jurisdictions cannot meet incident response
resource needs with their own resources or with help
available from other local jurisdictions, they may ask for
state assistance

20. Formal Resource Request Process
Governor
Other StatesFederal (FEMA)
Interstate
Compacts
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
State Operations Center (SOC)
DISASTER DISTRICT
DDC Members
Volunteer Groups
Volunteer Groups
Business/Industry
Individuals
Coordinate w/ regional mutual aid
partners
Mutual Aid
Other Local Govts

21. TDEM Regions
• Texas is divided into
6 regions
• Each region has a
TDEM Assistant Chief
Responsible for TDEM
Programs in their region

22. Disaster Districts
• Texas has 30 disaster districts
(24 planning regions)
• Each disaster district
has a TDEM District
Coordinator(s)

23. Texas Division of Emergency Management
Leadership Organization Chart
September 17, 2019

24. SOC Organization 2010 – 2019
DPS AD
TDEM Chief
SOC Manager
Planning Section
(TDEM)
Situation Unit
(EM Council)
Documentation
Unit
(EM Council)
Resource Unit
(EM Council)
Demobilization
Unit
(EM Council)
Ops Section
(DPS)
Emergency
Services Branch
(EM Council)
Infrastructure
Branch
(EM Council)
Human Services
Branch
(Council, VOAD)
Military Branch
(TMD)
Logistics Section
(TDEM)
Service
Coordinator
(TDEM)
Private Sector
Unit
Supply Unit
(TMD)
Warehouse
(TDEM)
Property
Manager
(TDEM)
Finance Section
(TDEM)
Time Unit
(State Agencies)
Procurement
Unit
(DPS, TPASS)
Cost Unit
(OMB, CAO)
Recovery Liaison
(TDEM)
Daily Operations
Staff
(TDEM)
General Counsel
(OGC)
FEMA Liaison
PIO
(DPS)
Policy Group

25. Texas State Operations Center (SOC)
Hurricane Harvey

26. Learn and improve.
Be intentional about improving
resilience.
Know each other.
Help each other.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
The “BEFORE” makes a difference in the
“DURING” and “AFTER”.