National Incident Management Training and Education Conference kicks off

(HOUSTON, Texas) Today, over 400 incident management professionals from across the nation kicked off the Second Annual All-Hazard Incident Management Team (AHIMT) Training and Education Conference. Key federal, state and local officials took center stage to highlight capabilities of local incident management teams and their on-going successes in the management of major incidents and planned large-scale events.

Texas Forest Service (TFS) Interim Director Tom Boggus noted, “As an agency director, I have the hardest time trying to explain to other agency heads what an IMT is, what it does...Well, I'm here to tell you I know what IMTs do because I've seen it firsthand.  I've seen the citizens of Texas protected, fed, sheltered put on the path to recovery by teams. That's why I wanted to be here…I know what you do, how vital you are to our country and to tell you thanks."  Boggus praised conference attendees saying, “You folks are the real heroes.”

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett both welcomed and thanked participants for their dedication to the “team approach” employed by AHIMTs during the County’s response to Hurricane Ike.

During the opening session, Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos likewise echoed praise of the Texas Type 3 AHIMT Program – noting its assistance to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in the aftermath of Hurricane Dolly in 2008.

Tomorrow morning, Texas Division of Emergency Management Director Jack Colley will speak to deliver the keynote address.  Director Colley, who tapped TFS with developing and sustaining the Texas Type 3 AHIMT Program, has been a strong proponent of the regional IMTs since its inception. 

The Texas Type 3 AHIMT program, under the auspices of TFS, has over 350 team members representing 50-plus jurisdictions from throughout the state.  The Texas Type 3 AHIMT Program has capacity to have ready at all times eight regional, 10-person teams from throughout the state.

         Texas Type 3 AHIMT Highlights                 

• Over 350 team members from 50-plus jurisdictions representing all disciplines throughout the state

• Eight, 10-person, regional teams (three positions deep) statewide

• Texas Forest Service administrator / coordinator for the Texas Program

• Texas Program funded 100% by Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Grants – since inception in 2006, $1.3 million awarded

• Texas Type 3 IMTs major responses:  EAGLE PASS TORNADO, EAST TEXAS AND CENTRAL TEXAS FLOODS, HURRICANES DOLLY, EDUARDO, GUSTAV, IKE, MONTAGUE COUNTY FIRES, PRESIDIO FLOODING, H1NI STATE PREPAREDNESS

• Integral component of State of Texas Hurricane Re-Entry Plan

• Texans helping Texans