InterIm report to the 82nd texas LegisLature House Committee on EmErgEncy PreparEdnEss December 2010 HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INTERIM REPORT 2010 A REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 82ND TEXAS LEGISLATURE AARON PEÑA CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE CLERK BENJAMIN WRIGHT House Select Committee On Emergency Preparedness December 12, 2010 Aaron Peña P.O. Box 2910 Chairman Austin, Texas 78768-2910 The Honorable Joe Straus Speaker, Texas House of Representatives Members of the Texas House of Representatives Texas State Capitol, Rm. 2W.13 Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Mr. Speaker and Fellow Members, The Texas House of Representatives boasts a long history of gauging the state's level of emergency preparedness for disasters resulting from natural catastrophes and criminal threats. In 1874, the House and Senate appointed a Joint Committee to investigate "border troubles." After hearing from “gentlemen of extensive information and large experience," the committee detailed the “difficulties, dangers and losses” which resulted in “disquiet and a general feeling of insecurity," for border communities. Similarly in 1901, another Joint Committee investigated "the condition of the people residing in the district (Galveston) damaged by the storm on September 8th, 1900,” taking the "testimony of various and sundry persons." Both reports made legislative recommendations to the Texas House that aimed - in the words of our present committee's charge - to "improve preparedness for future disasters." It is this rich story of hearings, reports and recommendations that the House Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness has aspired to build upon. The committee has travelled extensively around the state in order to listen to the concerns and ideas of Texans. As requested, the committee has conducted an analysis of Texas' critical infrastructure, emergency warning systems, planning organizations, evacuation plans, first response efforts and overall co-ordination of jurisdictions. The committee has also reviewed previous legislative studies to determine the state's progress, and has made legislative recommendations to improve preparedness. The House Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness of the Eighty-first Legislature hereby submits its interim report including recommendations and drafted legislation for consideration by the Eighty-second Legislature. Respectfully submitted, _______________________ Aaron Peña _______________________ ______________________ Mike Hamilton Rick Hardcastle _______________________ ______________________ Frank Corte, Jr. Tryon Lewis _______________________ _______________________ Harold Dutton Mark Strama _______________________ _______________________ Joe Farias Larry Taylor _______________________ _______________________ Stephen Frost Allen Vaught Aaron Peña Mike Hamilton Chair Vice Chair Members: Frank Corte, Jr., Harold Dutton, Joe Farias, Stephen Frost, Rick Hardcastle, Tryon Lewis, Mark Strama, Larry Taylor, Allen Vaught In memory of Jack Colley "This 'aint Rhode Island" "Clearly how you plan, how you train, how you exercise, that is the hallmark of Texas" "Emergency Management is a thinking man's sport" TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 13 The Speaker's Charge and the Report's Organization ........................................................... 13 What the Committee Did ...................................................................................................... 13 A Note About Recommendations ......................................................................................... 14 1 HOMELAND SECURITY: TERRORISM AND BORDER SECURITY ............................... 16 Background ............................................................................................................................... 16 Drug Cartels and Terrorism Linked ...................................................................................... 16 Changing Nature of Mexican Drug Cartels .......................................................................... 17 Potential Emergency Scenarios ............................................................................................. 18 The Problem of Response ..................................................................................................... 20 State Capabilities .................................................................................................................. 21 Progress ..................................................................................................................................... 22 The Secure Communities Initiative ...................................................................................... 24 Local Best Practices .............................................................................................................. 24 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 25 2 HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS ............................................................................................ 27 Background ............................................................................................................................... 27 Lower Rio Grande Valley Scenario .......................................................................................... 27 Reluctance to Evacuate ......................................................................................................... 28 Post Disaster Issues ............................................................................................................... 29 Houston Galveston Industrial Sector ........................................................................................ 29 The Ike Dike Solution ........................................................................................................... 30 "Zone specific" Solutions ..................................................................................................... 31 Progress ..................................................................................................................................... 32 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 32 3 PANDEMICS AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS .................................................. 34 Background ............................................................................................................................... 34 Summary of Potential Public Health Emergency Scenarios ................................................. 34 8 Pandemic Flu ........................................................................................................................ 35 Department of State Health Services ........................................................................................ 39 Structures in Action: Medication Distribution and H1N1 .................................................... 39 DSHS Response Capabilities ................................................................................................ 41 Surge Capacity .......................................................................................................................... 42 Hospital Plans ....................................................................................................................... 43 Progress ..................................................................................................................................... 44 Surge Capacity Planning ....................................................................................................... 45 Liability ................................................................................................................................. 45 Operation Lone Star .............................................................................................................. 45 TexMAT-1 ............................................................................................................................ 45 Pilot Projects in South Texas ................................................................................................ 46 Medical Training ................................................................................................................... 47 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 47 4 OTHER THREATS .................................................................................................................. 49 Background ............................................................................................................................... 49 Oil Spills ................................................................................................................................... 49 Localized Severe Flooding ....................................................................................................... 50 Houston ................................................................................................................................. 50 El Paso .................................................................................................................................. 51 Tornadoes .................................................................................................................................