This is an article by Jamie Hannan and Kristina Clark, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, January 8, 2025.
During a derecho in May 2024, Texas agencies contacted and conducted wellness checks on residents with disabilities or with functional and access needs. One tool facilitated the process, sharing critical information about registrants to the emergency responders and planners who needed to know. Learn about this collaborative process.
Listen on
Jamie Hannan
Jamie Hannan, MAT, MPP, is the innovation research analyst for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) in Harris County, Texas. He joined the team in 2021 after working in the nonprofit and education sectors for a decade. In his role at HCOHSEM, he works across sections to highlight best practices and innovative processes, researches trends in emergency management, serves as a policy analyst, supports disaster recovery operations, and acts as a liaison to the commissioners court, the local governing body for Harris County. Most recently, Jamie served as deputy incident commander for the Texas Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding disaster recovery operations and served in a recovery leadership role for Hurricane Beryl. He holds a B.A. in history and an M.A. in teaching from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and a master of public policy from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston.
Kristina Clark
Kristina Clark is the access and functional needs planning manager for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM). HCOHSEM is responsible for disaster planning, preparedness, response, and recovery in the nation’s third most populous county. Clark joined HCOHSEM in 2009 and has worked to integrate equity, accessibility, and a whole community approach into all-hazards emergency management planning. She manages the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) for Harris County. She serves as a liaison to the Catastrophic Medical Operations Center, the Coalition for the Homeless, independent school districts, and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD). In addition, she co-chairs the region’s Disability Access & Functional Needs (DAFN) Workgroup. As part of HCOHSEM’s Planning Section, Clark supports and maintains the Harris County Basic Plan, Shelter and Mass Care Plan, Volunteer Reception Center Plan, and the Pandemic Plan, to name a few. During emergency operation center activations, Clark has served as the planning section chief, deputy planning section chief, and situation unit leader for many activations, including Hurricane Harvey, Tropical Storm Imelda, Winter Storm Uri, COVID-19, Super Bowl LI, 2018 NCAA Final Four, the World Series, and weather-related events.
