Houston, Texas — The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) Communications Section was honored last week with the Excellence in Outreach Award at the Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC) Homeland Security Today Holiday Hero Awards Ceremony.
This accolade honors organizations that excel in strengthening the communities they serve through education and engagement. The HCOHSEM Communications team earned this recognition for their innovative and inclusive response following the straight-line windstorm in May.
In partnership with FEMA, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and Deaf Link—a provider of accessible communications for individuals who are deaf, blind, hard of hearing, or deaf/blind —the Communications team produced a comprehensive 5-minute video and supporting materials to help address frequently asked questions, guiding residents through disaster recovery and the FEMA/SBA application process.
“Effective outreach and education across all of our communities is the foundation of everything we do,” said Mark Sloan, Harris County Emergency Management Coordinator. “The Communications team continues to demonstrate our commitment to building a better prepared and more resilient community.”
The collaboration with FEMA, SBA, and Deaf Link exemplifies HCOHSEM’s strong partnership model, which is essential in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. The initiative not only showcased the power of effective outreach but also set a new standard for future collaboration efforts.
ABOUT HCOHSEM
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is the Director of the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, a national model of best practices in emergency planning, preparation, response, and recovery. HCOHSEM helps prepare, safeguard, and protect the residents and property of Harris County from the effects of disasters through effective planning, preparation, response, and recovery activities.
ABOUT GTSC Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition, a non-profit organization working in homeland security and the owners of Homeland Security Today, has recognized the numerous public and private sector officials who work to protect the homeland every day. The Homeland Security Today Awards are meant to recognize them, to thank them, and to appreciate the tremendous work they do. More information on the Holiday Hero Awards is available at: https://www.gtscoalition.com/about-us/gtsc-awards/
