In 2020, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, Hazardous Materials Response Team launched a new HazMat Pre-Incident Planning Program. The goal of the program is to allow HCFMO to serve industry better in the unlikelihood of a hazardous materials incident at a facility. The program’s principal tenants begin with a site visit by the HazMat Team so they can learn more about local facilities such as 24-hour contact information, any hazardous materials on site along with storage, handling and processes. Such information, obtained in advance of a potential hazmat incident, will better prepare the HCFMO team of highly trained professionals to assist industry in time of need while serving as a conduit to other emergency response entities.

This initiative is now under way, with the HCFMO reaching out to facilities in unincorporated Harris County that manufacture, store, or use hazardous materials. The HCFMO team may be in touch with companies to visit sites and perform basic data collection as previously mentioned. This protected information will then be entered into their emergency response system on the HazMat Response Units where it will be readily accessible (to) if needed during an incident.

Please feel free to reach out to R.W. “Bob” Royall Jr., Assistant Chief, Emergency Operations Harris County Fire Marshall’s Office, at 713.274.1750 or bob.royall@fmo.hctx.net with any questions.

Sent by Anne Dieringer, EHCMA, on behalf of: R.W. “Bob” Royall, Jr. HCFMO