HCOHSEM honored with Texas Emergency Management Partnership Recognition Award at the 2025 Texas Emergency Management Conference
Harris County, Texas — The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) received the Texas Emergency Management Partnership Recognition Award at the 2025 Texas Emergency Management Conference for the Incident Liaison Program.
The Texas Emergency Management Partnership Award recognizes agencies that demonstrate a significant commitment to creating a strong partnership with the local government officials and participation in local community preparedness initiatives. HCOHSEM’s Incident Liaison Program strengthens communication and collaboration between private industry and local government to enhance public safety. It was originally created to bridge gaps between petrochemical companies and emergency managers, but now plays a proactive role in overall planning and preparedness. These public-private partnerships are key to building resilient communities and improving disaster response and recovery.
“The Incident Liaison Program has proven to be invaluable during many incidents including Hurricane Harvey, the Intercontinental Terminals Company Fire in Deer Park and Winter Storm Uri,” said Harris County Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Sloan. “As challenges become more complex, working together and communicating clearly with our private sector partners will be key to effective protection, response, and recovery.”
The Texas Emergency Management Conference had a record-breaking attendance this year with more than 4,200 attendees from 45 states and six countries, representing first responders, emergency managers from local jurisdictions, elected officials, state and federal agencies, tribal communities, private sector partners, and other decision-makers from across the country and beyond.
ABOUT HCOHSEM
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is the Director of the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, a national model of best practices in emergency planning, preparation, response, and recovery. HCOHSEM helps prepare, safeguard, and protect the residents and property of Harris County from the effects of disasters through effective planning, preparation, response, and recovery activities.
Photo Courtesy: Texas Division of Emergency Management/ Jason Arana
###