HOUSTON UASI AND RCPI
A LOCAL-REGIONAL
APPROACH TO THIRA
Alison Belcher
Houston UASI
Mel Bartis
Houston RCPI
1
OVERVIEW
 History of risk/capability analysis in Houston region
 Benefits of a regional THIRA
 What we hope to accomplish with a regional THIRA
 Proposed regional THIRA process
 Potential integration with State of Texas THIRA
 Benefits
 Challenges
2
PAST THREAT, RISK, AND CAPABILIT Y
ASSESSMENT EFFORTS
 Since 2003, the Houston Region has done at least 5 separate
comprehensive threat analyses, capability assessments, and
risk assessments
 Most recent capability and risk assessments in 2009/10
(RCPGP)




Assisted us in determining our RCPG planning baseline
Prioritized hazards and capability gaps for planning
Identified local and regional strengths and weaknesses
Informed the prioritization of funds for UASI
 H-GAC and local jurisdiction Mitigation Action Plans
 Hazard identification
 Hazard analysis
 Risk assessment
3
FINDINGS
Digital Sandbox, January 2010
4
FINDINGS
Digital Sandbox, January 2010
5
FINDINGS
CNA, September 2009
6
CURRENT RISK AND CAPABILIT Y
ASSESSMENT EFFORTS
 PHEP Grant Requirement – Houston Health Department is the
Texas lead agency for development of the new Texas Public
Health Risk Assessment Tool
 Multi-jurisdictional collaborative with State, Regional, County, Local,
academic, public health, emergency management, health care
systems, and mental health systems representatives participating in
its design and development
 The first version of the tool has been released for statewide use for
all PHEP funded LHD and regional health department jurisdictions
 Developers are reviewing CPG 201 to see potential links w/
emergency management and homeland security partners
 http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/commprep/phep/program.aspx
7
BENEFITS OF A REGIONAL THIRA
Important contributions to the region’s
existing risk management program.
Already a “quasi-requirement” of RCPGP …
suspect it might be for FY2013 UASI.
Change the focus of capabilities from target to
core – making it easier to update the regional
strategy in the fall.
8
WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH A
REGIONAL THIRA
Better visibility of our gaps
Create a more informed process to steer
future projects
Assist/inform state’s efforts in their THIRA
and with the SPR
9
HOUSTON REGION’S PLAN FOR THIRA
To merge our existing risk and capability data with the
FEMA THIRA process to deliver an assessment of
practical value to our region.
Fusion/LE/CI
KR
assessments
Mitigationrelated
assessments
Public health
assessments
Regional
capability
assessments
THIRA
Local
Jurisdiction
assessments
Regional risk
assessments
Privatesector risk
assessments
10
OUR STRATEGY
Our process will involve multi-disciplinary,
multi-jurisdictional collaboration
We will engage relevant preparedness
stakeholders (including private sector partners
and other whole community partners)
11
PROCESS – STEP 1
Review the region’s existing threat and
hazard identification results, plans and
assessments
Mitigation Plan for H-GAC, RCPG Risk and
Capability Assessments, etc.
Outcome of Step 1:
List natural, technological, and human-caused
threats and hazards that are of greatest
concern to our region
CNA & Digital Sandbox, May 2012
12
PROCESS – STEP 2
Provide context to list of threats and
hazards related to their impact to our
region.
Outcome of Step 2:
 Threat and hazard descriptions tied to the
Houston region’s critical infrastructure and
population profiles.
CNA & Digital Sandbox, May 2012
13
PROCESS – STEP 3
 Define, using core capabilities, the impacts each
threat/hazard will have on our region and our
desired outcomes.
 Build matrix that aligns the threats and hazards
with each of the capabilities & consequences for
our region.
 Outcome of Step 3:
 Create the list of desired outcomes and impacts for
core capabilities.
CNA & Digital Sandbox, May 2012
14
PROCESS – STEP 4
 Establish capability targets that tie together our
estimated impacts and desired outcomes.
 Outcome of Step 4:
 Create the list of capability targets.
CNA & Digital Sandbox, May 2012
15
PROCESS – STEP 5
 Build summary report for UASI and RCPG regions,
and executive summary for State of Texas
 Outcome of Step 5:
 Completed Houston Regional THIRA (RCPG and UASI
regions).
CNA & Digital Sandbox, May 2012
16
INTEGRATION WITH STATE OF TEXAS
THIRA
 Benefits:
 Provides a local/urban area geographic context to
the THIRA
 Provides the same “sheet of music” – if we’re all
using the same process, it eases collaboration
 State and FEMA Region VI will receive a closer
snapshot of analysis for the Houston Urban Area
 It’s the right thing to do – we need to understand our
own risks, capabilities, and gaps to continue moving
forward with our homeland security strategies
17
INTEGRATION WITH STATE OF TEXAS
THIRA
 Challenges:
 With a state as large and diverse as Texas, how do
you truly capture the threats and hazards of concern?
 Want to avoid “too many cooks in the kitchen” while
still informing the process
 Timeline may not allow for thorough integration of
local THIRAs with state THIRA
18
QUESTIONS?
Alison Belcher
Lead UASI Planner
832-393-0928
alison.belcher@houstontx.gov
Mel Bartis
Houston RCPI Program Manager
832-393-0917
melanie.bartis@houstontx.gov
19