HOUSTON – A roundtable discussion was recently held at the Southern News Group in Houston, hosted by Houston Ethnic Media, bringing together journalists from diverse media outlets.
The event, led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), aimed to educate the public about winter preparedness as the third anniversary of Winter Storm Uri approaches.
This collaborative effort marked the first of its kind, bringing together agencies involved in natural disaster preparedness and ethnic media from across Greater Houston.
The panel discussion covered important topics such as preparedness planning for people with disabilities, comprehensive communication strategies that prioritize accessibility and inclusivity, expected weather patterns influenced by El Niño, and initiatives in disaster resilience and preparation for older Americans.
Traci Brasher, FEMA’s Deputy Regional Administrator in Region 6, kicked off the discussion via Zoom, emphasizing the office’s commitment to improving their response to natural disasters. Brasher acknowledged that in the past, the limitations of federal assistance have hindered timely disaster recovery, particularly for communities disproportionately affected by such events.
“In the past, the limitations of federal assistance have delayed disaster recovery for too many, especially communities that are disproportionately affected by disasters,” Brasher said.
Panelists included Brian Murray from the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Logan Perkes from FEMA Region 6 Disability Integration Specialist, Dan Reilly from the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston, and Jason Tudor from AARP.
Perkes highlighted the importance of preparedness planning for people with disabilities, recommending actions such as maintaining emergency contacts and ensuring a 90-day supply of medications.
“Always request a 90-day supply of medications that way they have extra on hand in case there is severe weather, and they can’t leave home. And then when they are building an emergency kit, they can purchase items over time because some people are living off $900 a month so they can’t spend $100 buying food and supplies all at one time.”
Reilly discussed the NWS’s efforts to expand their reach in underserved communities, expressing the need for improved collaboration. He mentioned the existing preparedness guides are available in languages like Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese, and proposed further partnerships with Harris County and Houston Ethnic Media to develop materials that cater specifically to diverse communities.
Sandy Close, the Executive Director of Ethnic Media Services, emphasized the significance of building an accessible network of ethnic news outlets in Greater Houston. She stressed the importance of establishing a directory to connect these outlets, with the vision of serving the diverse communities of the metropolitan area.
The roundtable concluded with the various journalists agreeing on the importance of collaborative efforts between agencies and ethnic media outlets to enhance winter preparedness and ensure the safety of all communities in Greater Houston.
For other resources, visit the following links:
https://www.ready.gov/disability
https://www.weather.gov/srh/tropical?office=hgx#preparedness