The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office (HCFMO) Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Response Team will begin pre-incident planning in March 2020, in compliance with NFPA 1620. Funding from Harris County Commissioners Court, to support additional HazMat team staffing has allowed HCFMO to develop and pursue this progressive avenue of pre-incident planning of businesses and facilities in unincorporated Harris County.
"HCFMO's HazMat team is working with local fire departments to pre-incident plan businesses and facilities that have hazardous materials in unincorporated Harris County," said Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen. "These pre-planning activities allow HCFMO to work with local first responders in an effort to bridge the gap between reports on locations with hazardous materials and current conditions. Tier II reports are a valuable tool for fire departments, but they are merely a snapshot in time. Working with businesses and facilities through pre-planning activities will provide HCFMO, law enforcement, fire departments, emergency management, and EMS with valuable data and information.
The Emergency Operations Division houses the Harris County Hazardous Materials Response Team, often referred to as HazMat. This team is responsible for the effective planning and response to emergencies and disasters – whether natural, accidental or deliberate. The HCFMO Hazmat response team has the authority and responsibility to respond in unincorporated Harris County for hazardous materials incidents and is available when called upon throughout the region.
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