About Us
The Community Response Task Force was initiated in early 2006 by several groups in the 59 north corridor area. The City of Humble Office of Emergency Management contacted numerous groups that had historically assisted with relief during disasters to meet and discuss the feasibility of developing a local networking organization to help coordinate area volunteer relief efforts. Experiences during recent disaster efforts spurred these groups to develop the organization to develop and maintain a common methodology to disaster response for these varied groups. The resulting meetings led to the organizing of the Community Response Task Force. The CRTF is primarily a networking organization which provides coordination services, needs assessments, resource availability.
Disasters such as Hazardous Materials accidents, terrorist acts, aircraft crashes, and tropical storms can and do occur in Northeast Harris and Southeast Montgomery County. This area is geographically located in a significant disaster risk zone. Within the area are numerous railroad lines, a major Interstate Highway, an International airport, several primary storm drainage channels including the San Jacinto River, and a population in excess of 150,000. Such occurrences as Hurricane Tidal Surges will affect the highly populated areas along the Texas Gulf Coast. The area is located on the southern edge of the northern most portion of Harris County that is affected by Hurricane Tidal Storm Surges. The area lies directly in a corridor through which Storm Surge Evacuation of the Galveston/Brazoria County region is planned. In 2005 such an evacuation moved in excess of 1 million persons into or through the area. This area has and will likely continue to experience flash flooding on a massive scale. Past Tropical Storms have dropped 20 inch or greater rainfalls resulting in widespread local flooding. There is no indication that disaster incidents affecting the area will diminish in number or impact. Regional population growth, tropical storm trends, and geo-political conditions may even lead to increases in the risk of disaster.
Over the past several years three declared disasters have taxed area capability to cope with relief efforts for displaced persons. Those were flooding from Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, the Evacuation during Hurricane Katrina and later during Hurricane Rita, both in 2005. Government, Faith Based Groups, Private Enterprise, and Local Citizens put forth extraordinary efforts to provide basic needs for displaced persons when those arose. These incidents brought to light deficiencies in regional preparedness for sheltering large numbers of evacuees/refugees. Reviews of response during these incidents revealed there was often insufficient communication and coordination between the many entities drawn into those efforts. This sometimes resulted in waste or misdirection of resources during times when the need was greatest.
Coalitions must exist to efficiently develop, coordinate, and utilize disaster relief resources involving multiple groups. The Northeast Harris/Southeast Montgomery County Coalition for Disaster Relief Preparedness is dedicated to facilitating the organization of human and material resources in its geographical area for efficient response to local Disaster Relief efforts.
Member Based Non-Profit Organization of Individuals or Groups with the desire or responsibility to assist with local disaster relief.
Nominate and elect Officers of the organization through action of the membership for a term established by By-Laws
Coordinator-Coordinates administration, appoints committees, oversees finances, directs meetings using Roberts Rules of Order, produces meeting agendas
Management Team
President of the Board of Directors- Oversees the Board of Directors and operations of the organization.
Secretary- Maintains records of meetings.
Treasurer- Records all financial activities. Coordinates all financial transactions with President and Coordinator
For more information on the Management team (Board of Directors): CLICK HERE
Members: Organizations: Churches, Church Groups, Emergency Services Organizations, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Area Assistance Ministries, Area School Districts, Area Clubs.
Nominate a By-Laws Committee and Start that process.
Hold regular meetings of approximately 1 hour for networking and training.
Meet with local organizations to promote and develop resources consistent with Emergency Preparedness.
Activities following group organization and solicitation of support
1. Contact area churches to gather interest in becoming a sponsored (Red Cross, Diocese, etc.) shelter or provide support for area shelters.
2. Locate Storm Resistant sites suitable for locating short term refuges.
3. Develop written emergency planning agreements between Emergency Management Agencies and the owner/operators of local refuge locations.
4. Develop written emergency planning agreements with local food bank operations for commodities needed for emergency feeding.
5. Develop written emergency planning agreements with local wholesale and retail suppliers to supply commodities needed for emergency feeding.
6. Prepare an information packet for potential shelter providers/sponsors regarding when a shelter should be opened, the costs incurred, human resources necessary, liability issues, and government re-imbursement.
7. Prepare an information packet for potential shelter sponsors, managers, and workers.
8. Prepare and provide a training program for shelter managers and workers in conjunction with Red Cross or other sponsoring group.