Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez:
Tuesday marked the start of a new month and this year’s hurricane season, which runs through the end of November. Meteorologists and weather experts anticipate an active hurricane season, predicting 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
The time to prepare is now. If you haven’t already, finalize your emergency plan, stock up on critical supplies, bookmark preparedness resources, and stay informed.
|
|
-
Create an Emergency Plan: Knowing what to do protects you and your loved ones. Every family is unique and has different needs. Discuss how you will stay in contact with each other, what you will do in an emergency, and where you will go if you need to evacuate. This plan is your guide and best protection against the dangers of a disaster.
|
|
|
|
-
Build a Kit: During emergencies, you may need to evacuate or hunker down at home for an extended period. Consider building a go-bag and shelter-in-place kit. Don’t panic buy – give yourself time to purchase disaster supplies and prepare your emergency food, water, and medical necessities.
|
|
In the aftermath of a storm, many rely on gasoline-powered generators to run their household appliances. But generators can pose a serious safety threat when not used properly, because of the deadly carbon monoxide fumes they create. In fact, generator misuse after a storm has passed is often the cause of more deaths than the actual storms themselves. If you’re in the market for a generator, be sure to look for those that come with an automatic shutoff if carbon monoxide levels rise. And never operate a generator inside your home or in any enclosed space.
In addition to taking these precautionary steps, you must consider the specific needs that older individuals or those with a disability may have and include them in your emergency plan. Think about electricity-dependent equipment and medical-related items. Disasters can unfold in unpredictable ways, and even thoughtful plans may need to adapt fast to evolving circumstances. Review and print this easy-to-use care plan template from the CDC.
For those of us who lived through Hurricane Harvey’s destruction, we know it only takes one storm to devastate a community. And we also know that neighborhoods with no history of flooding are still vulnerable. Nearly 75% of homes that flooded during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 were outside the 100-year floodplain map.
As an agency, we always prepare for the worst-case scenario. Our Flood Rescue Team members respond to flooding events throughout the county and have completed rigorous swift water training at the Flood Rescue Academy in Round Rock. This essential rescue training ensures our deputies can safely and effectively set up and support emergency response and rescue operations during extreme weather events.
We have a growing fleet of rescue vehicles and watercraft for when storms threaten our region and continue to devote more staff and resources to high-water equipment and life-saving training to better ensure the safety of our communities.
This is also a moment to create a support network of nearby loved ones and neighbors on your block. Develop a check-in system and make yourself available to those who may need to lean on you during an emergency.
Stay informed and be ready before a storm hits.
|
|
Flood Safety Tips from Sgt. Gonzalez |
|
IACP’s Police Chief Magazine Spotlights Our Telehealth Program |
|
In the latest published issue of Police Chief Magazine, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) spotlighted holistic strategies to officer safety and wellness, both critical topics in policing and public safety.
Our Clinician and Officer Remote Evaluation (CORE) telehealth program, which provides our patrol deputies with in-hand access to a behavioral health clinician via an iPad, was featured for its collaborative approach and proven success.
|
|
“Police professionals must continue to think creatively and utilize the available technology when creating solutions to issues within the profession. In a world that is now more dependent on technology than ever, the CORE program is only one example of many telehealth programs that have been recently enacted.” – IACP
|
|
|
|
- 42% of the calls were resolved on the scene.
- 93% of the deputies stated the clinician helped them decide what course of action to take with the resident.
|
|
- 86% of the deputies stated the clinician helped them de-escalate the resident.
- Cost savings due to jail diversion were estimated to be $781,632.
|
|
|
This partnership with The Harris Center started as a pilot program with three deputies in 2017 and has since become the largest of its kind in the nation with 250 trained deputies across Harris County. Deputies can connect with a clinician within five minutes for support on mental health calls. |
|
|
|
"Major Quincy Whitaker said the sheriff's office has made concerted efforts to diversify the force over the years.
Cadet Ciara Menifee, who just went through training with HCSO last month to fulfill her childhood dream of being a law enforcement officer, said her perspective growing up as a minority in Acres Homes will allow her to interact with the community differently than someone without that background.
'For someone that looks like me to understand them, that's very important to me, because I'm going to know and understand where they're coming from,' Menifee said."
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Pomaski has blonde hair below her shoulders and an "Infinity Serenity" tattoo on the front of her hip. She also has a mole above her left eyebrow and a mole on the left side of her nose.
If you have any information regarding her disappearance, please call the HCSO Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS."
|
|
|
|
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Is One of 14 Law Enforcement Agencies Nationwide Designated As a Mental Health Learning Site by the Council of State Governments Justice Center |
|
Our Workforce Development Program, in Collaboration With Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. and Harris County Precinct 2, Supports Those Experiencing Homelessness in East Harris County With Resources and an Opportunity To Earn a Wage |
|
District 5 Crime Reduction Unit Deputies Assisted With a Narcotics Investigation That Led to the Seizure of 6.8 Kilos of Meth, 95 Grams of Cocaine, and Numerous Other Narcotics and Firearms |
|
Miss Last Week's Newsletter? |
|
HCSO Newsletter #119 - Honoring Those Who Gave the...
In honor of Memorial Day, our team members visited the Houston National Cemetery to place 839 American flags on the graves of past service members and to pay our respects to our fallen heroes. We solemnly unite in remembrance and appreciation of...
Read more
myemail.constantcontact.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
