SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) – Texas Division of Emergency Management’s (TDEM) annual conference began today and continues through Friday in San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Approximately 2,500 public and private sector emergency management professionals will join DPS – TDEM for the 2018 Texas Emergency Management Conference. The conference features workshops, breakout sessions, trainings and exhibits, and allows attendees to exchange best practices and build on ideas for enhancing emergency management responses.
“Every disaster is different, and with the variety of threats facing Texas because of our size, geography and large population, planning for the worst is a necessity for our emergency managers,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “We are proud to host this annual conference to bring together public and private partners who will spend the week sharing information to ensure Texas is even better prepared for the next disaster.”
“I want to thank the Texas Division of Emergency Management for hosting this event for all the incredible emergency management personnel across our state who helped coordinate and carry out one of the largest disaster responses in our state’s history,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “With another hurricane season weeks away, now is the time to prepare and ensure Texas is taking action to make our communities safer and more resilient when disaster strikes. As our public and private sector partners come together this week to enhance their plans, I want to also urge all Texans to do their part by preparing now for the next potential disaster to impact their community, whether it be a hurricane, tornado, flood, wildfire, drought or other emergency. Planning ahead will increase your ability to help protect yourself, your family and your property.”
Conference participants include representatives from local, state and federal emergency management, law enforcement, border security, port security, transportation, cyber security, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, state military forces, volunteer organizations and private sector partners. In addition, officials from higher education, public education, health and medical care, and public officials from local, state, tribal and federal organizations also attend the annual meeting. Representatives from the state agencies on the Texas Emergency Management Council also will be in attendance.
“Each year, we bring together thousands of emergency managers from across the state, so they can work together to better prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate future events,” said TDEM Chief Nim Kidd. “I am always impressed by the innovation, dedication and teamwork demonstrated by the emergency management community in Texas. As a result, they undoubtedly will leave this conference with new tools to better protect their communities from all threats.”
For more information on how Texas residents can prepare their homes and families for emergencies, please visit the DPS website.
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