[Press Conference: “Mayor Whitmire Supporting First Responders at OEM”]
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APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING HERE ON THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON WHERE WE SHOULD PROBABLY BE WITH OUR FAMILIES AND PRACTICING OUR FAITH OR PAYING ATTENTION TO NATIONAL EVENTS.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT MY FIRST RESPONDERS, MY CHIEFS, DIRECTORS AS WE CONTINUE THE RECOVERY FROM BURL.
I WAS IN THE FIELD YESTERDAY WITH TRADE THE TRUTH, SO I WAS OUT.
YOU CAN'T SEE THE, UH, EFFECTS OF THE STORM UNTIL YOU GET OUT IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON AND ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M GONNA HAVE THE DIRECTORS TO TELL YOU WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH, DOCUMENT.
WE'RE NOT GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK UNTIL EVERYONE HAS THEIR POWER RETURNED.
THIS AFTERNOON THERE'S ABOUT 3000 HOUSTONIANS STILL WITHOUT POWER.
SO OBVIOUSLY, UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HOLD CENTERPOINT ACCOUNTABLE.
I'LL BE GOING TO AUSTIN ON THE 29TH TO PARTICIPATE IN A STATE HEARING IN THE STATE SENATE TO LET THEM KNOW OF OUR EXPERIENCE AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE THINK CENTER POINT COULD DO BETTER.
I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCILMAN POLLARD GOT US CONFUSED WITH CENTER POINT AND THEIR PREPARATION, BUT WE'RE HERE TODAY TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE OF A NEWS STORY THAT I'VE SEEN AT LEAST TWICE.
HONORING RUSSELL RICHARDSON, ONE OF OUR HEROES THAT WE LOST DUE TO THE STORM.
I WAS THERE WHEN HIS BODY WAS RE RECOVERED.
IT HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON HIS COLLEAGUES.
BUT THE NEWS STORY HONORING HIM INTERVIEWED COUNCILMAN POLLARD, WHERE HE SAID, IF WE'D HAVE BEEN BETTER PREPARED, LIVES WOULD'VE BEEN SAVED.
MY PHONE LIT UP FROM CHIEFS, DIRECTORS RANK AND FILE EMPLOYEE GROUPS, SAID HE CAN'T GET AWAY WITH MISINFORMING THE PUBLIC.
THAT PERHAPS IF WE'D HAVE BEEN BETTER PREPARED THAT RUSSELL RICHARDSON WOULD BE ALIVE.
YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THE PAIN AND ANGRY COUNCILMAN POLLARD THAT YOU'VE CREATED.
SO WE'RE HERE ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON TO SET THE RECORD CLEAR, AND I'M GONNA CALL IN THE EXPERTS THAT WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK.
WE HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER PREPARED COMING OUT DIRETO COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY, THE STATE, THE FEDS, WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WITH SOCIAL AGENCIES, WITH OUR EMPLOYEE GROUPS.
WE WERE BETTER PREPARED THAN EVER AND TO CLAIM OTHERWISE AS EITHER DISHONEST OR MISINFORMED OR BOTH.
WE STARTED RIGHT HERE, THE NERVE CENTER OF THE EMERGENCY CENTER UPSTAIRS.
I STARTED ON FRIDAY COMING OUT OF THE JULY 4TH CELEBRATION.
WE WERE PREPARED FOR ALL CONTINGENCIES.
WE WERE BEING TOWED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, THAT IT WAS GONNA BE A TROPICAL STORM, MAYBE 60 MILES PER HOUR.
WE HAD A HURRICANE, BUT WE WERE PREPARED 90 MILES PER HOUR GUST, 10 TO 15 INCHES RAIN.
WE HAD ALL HANDS ON DECK AND IN FACT, WE ANNOUNCED THAT ON THE FIVE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
AND I WANNA THANK HOUSTONIANS FOR DOING THEIR PART.
WE ASKED THEM TO STAY OFF THE STREET STARTING AT 10 O'CLOCK.
WE THOUGHT THE STORM WOULD GET HERE AT MIDNIGHT.
THE INTENSITY WOULD GROW THROUGH THE NIGHT TILL PROBABLY NOON THE NEXT DAY.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE COUNCILMAN POLLARD WAS AT TWO O'CLOCK MONDAY MORNING, BUT I WAS IN ON PATROL WITH CHIEF SATTERWHITE MAKING CERTAIN AT THE ROLL CALLS THAT THE OFFICERS WOULD PROTECT THEMSELVES, FLOODING.
I COULD GO ON AND ON, HOW WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RANK AND FALL.
BUT WE WERE READY AT TWO O'CLOCK.
ALL WE'D GOTTEN WAS SPRINKLES.
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IN AT TWO.I GOT A SIX O'CLOCK START THE NEXT DAY.
ALL PREPARATIONS, WE'VE GOT THE BEST EMERGENCY CENTER DIRECTOR IN THE NATION WHO'S BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS FOR WEEKS.
THE RICHO CAUGHT US BY SURPRISE.
BUT WE GATHERED HERE THE DAY OF THE EVENT IN THE STORM AND IMMEDIATELY THAT OUR LIFE SAFETY CALLS PREPARATIONS.
SO LET ME JUST SIMPLY SAY TO MRS. RICHARDSON, I'M SORRY THAT WE EVEN HAD A CONVERSATION OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT HOW SHE WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND.
YOU CAN'T LOOSELY SAY THAT SOMEBODY'S LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IF THE AUTHORITIES WOULD'VE DONE THINGS DIFFERENT.
WE HAVE EXPERTS WORKING IN TRAINING, HOURS UPON HOURS, ALL HANDS ON DECK.
THE DISCUSSION, AND I'LL LEAVE IT TO CHIEF SATELLITE ABOUT WE SHOULD HAVE MOBILIZED SOONER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE DONE.
WE MOBILIZED WHEN WE NEEDED TO.
YOU DON'T WANT YOUR OFFICERS TO BURN OUT.
AND WE WERE SO PREPARED WHEN WE NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
WE HAD A HUNDRED OFFICERS COME FROM AROUND THE STATE.
WE HAD 25 AMBULANCES PREPARED.
NEVER BEFORE IN PREPARATION HAD WE PLANNED ON BUYING ICE.
ICE IS NORMALLY FURNISHED TO US BY HEB, OTHER PRIVATE CONTRIBUTORS OR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WHEN THEY RAN OUTTA ICE, WE WENT TO OTHER STATES AND SPENT $30,000 PER 18 WHEELER FOR ICE.
THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO CHANCE.
AND THAT OUGHT TO BE THE STORY.
AS I SAID, WE HAVE 3000 CITIZENS WITHOUT POWER.
WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF 'EM.
WE'RE ACTUALLY PREPARING FOR THE NEXT STORM.
WE'RE GONNA HELD HOLD CENTER POINT ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT LISTEN, THE REASON WE'RE GATHERED HERE THIS AFTERNOON IS TO CLEAR THE RECORD, CLEAR THE MISINFORMATION THAT WAS BROADCAST IN THAT STORY THAT HOUSTON WASN'T PREPARED.
SHAME TO UPSET MY RANK AND FILE FIRST RESPONDERS.
OUR PUBLIC WORKS FOLKS KEPT OUR WATER SYSTEM GOING.
WE NEVER HAD TO BOIL WATER LIKE PREVIOUS STORMS AND ADMINISTRATIONS.
WE HAD PUBLIC WORKS FOLKS SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR.
SO YES, I GET ANGRY AND I GET UPSET WITH POLITICAL TALK DURING A TRAGEDY.
NOT ONLY THE TRAGEDY OF LOSS OF PROPERTY DAYS AT WORK, AND THEN RUSSELL RICHARDSON AND THE OTHER CITIZENS THAT LOST THEIR LIFE.
NOW THERE'S FOUR REPORTED HOUSTONIANS LOST THEIR LIFE DURING THE STORM.
SO LET'S BE HONEST, TRUTHFUL, LET'S DON'T POLITICIZE A DISASTER.
DISRESPECT A FALLEN HERO AND DISRESPECT OUR RANK AND FILE CITY EMPLOYEES BY THE THOUSANDS THAT WENT THROUGH THE STORM AND MADE IT SAFE FOR THE REST OF US.
AS I MENTIONED, I WAS IN NORTHEAST YESTERDAY.
YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THE DAMAGE THAT TALL PINE TREES HAVE DONE TO RESIDENCES COMING THROUGH THE HOUSE, DESTROYING THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEIR UTILITIES BACK ON.
WE'RE WORKING WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS.
SO WITH THAT SAID, LET ME YIELD TO CHIEF SATTERWHITE, WHO IS WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.
HE MAKES THE PROPER DECISION ON MOBILIZATION AND I SUPPORT IT.
CHIEF SATTERWHITE MAYOR, I'M GONNA START WITH TALKING ABOUT RUSSELL RICHARDSON, WHO WAS A HERO.
RUSSELL WAS A MAN WHO HAD A SENSE OF DUTY AND HONOR.
HE WAS A MILITARY VET IN THE, HAVING SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE.
AND WHEN HE CAME ON TO HPD AS A PART OF OUR FAMILY, HE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT ATTITUDE, THAT SENSE OF DUTY, THAT SENSE OF HONOR.
AND THAT WAS WHO WE ALL SAW IN HIM AND HOW MUCH WE REALLY RESPECTED AND HIS PROFESSIONALISM AND ALL THAT HE DOES.
AND EVERYTHING IS, I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO HIS WIFE AND HEARING ABOUT HIM.
THAT IS, THAT IS TATIANA RICHARDSON SAYING THOSE THINGS TOO.
ON THAT DAY, ON THAT MONDAY, RUSSELL LOOKED ACROSS AND SAID, I NEED TO BE THERE.
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WHAT HE DOES IS HELP KEEP OUR NETWORK SAFE FROM ANY TYPE OF INTRUSION, ANY TYPE OF HACK, ANY KIND OF WAY OF BRINGING IT DOWN.BECAUSE COMMUNICATION IS VITAL, ESPECIALLY IN THE IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY.
HE IS THERE IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO BACK US UP.
AND THAT'S WHY HE FELT LIKE HE NEEDED TO GET IN.
THERE WERE A LOT OF TIER ONE EMPLOYEES THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT IN FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
NOT BECAUSE WITH EACH OFFICER AND EVERY EMPLOYEE, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT RESPOND WHEN IT'S SAFE, WHERE YOU CAN SAFELY GET IN SO THAT YOU CAN GET INTO THE FIGHT.
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THIS TYPE OF TRAGEDY HAPPEN, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.
I WAS IN THE EMERGENCY OPERATING OPERATION CENTER IN 2017 WHEN WE LOST STEVE PEREZ TRYING TO MAKE IT IN, TRYING TO DO THE JOB, TRYING TO SAVE LIVES.
THAT'S WHAT FIRST RESPONDERS DO.
WE TRY OUR BEST AND WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT EVERYBODY IS SAFE AND ABLE TO GET IN.
WE LOST STEVE THAT DAY OR THAT DURING THAT STORM.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY, AND ALL OF THE POLICE, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS RESPONSE AND HOW WE ALL CAME TOGETHER AND WE WERE COMMUNICATING WELL IN ADVANCE OF THIS STORM.
AND THEN WE WERE LOOKING AT IT AND IT WAS GOING TO GO INTO MEXICO, AND THEN IT WAS KINDA SLOWLY EDGING UP.
AND THE LAST REPORTS WAS MATAGORDA BAY, AND WE WERE GONNA GET HIT WITH SOME OF IT.
AND ON THE WEST SIDE, WE STILL DID NOT TAKE CHANCES.
WE DEPLOYED HIGH WATER RESCUE ASSETS, WE DEPLOYED BOATS.
WE BROUGHT OFFICERS IN OVERNIGHT TO SET BARRICADES ON LOW LYING AREAS.
WE DID ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND MORE AND ADVISED EVERYBODY TO BE ON HIGH ALERT AND BRING EVERYBODY IN IN UNIFORM.
CANCELED ALL CLASSES, ALL EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
OUR PRIMARY FOCUS WAS ON WHAT THIS STORM MIGHT DO AND OUR RESPONSE TO IT.
WE WERE, WE DID NOT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO ONE'S TOLD ME ANYTHING THAT WE'VE MISSED.
AND I'VE ASKED A THOUSAND TIMES.
WE WERE PREPARED AND WE RESPONDED.
OUR EMPLOYEES ARE OUR NUMBER ONE RESPONSE, UH, PRIORITY.
KEEPING THEM SAFE BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT KEEP YOU ALL SAFE.
AND SO WE MESSAGE TO THEM TO ALWAYS TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO HEROES AND THEY'RE ALSO GONNA TRY TO SAVE LIVES AND DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN.
AND SOMETIMES THEY MIGHT TAKE RISKS.
SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS IN OUR FIELD OF WORK.
WE ALL, WE ALL KNOW THAT POSSIBILITY, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
I PERSONALLY LOST A GOOD MAN THAT MONDAY IN RUSSELL.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE CALL THAT WE MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMEBODY IN THE WATER AND IT WAS ALL OVER THAT AREA.
WE HAD OFFICERS FROM EVERYWHERE LOOKING, TRYING.
AND WHEN WE FINALLY FOUND HIS CAR, WE ALL WERE THERE AND STILL HOPING AND PRAYING THAT SOMEHOW HE MADE IT OUT AND HE WAS SOMEWHERE AND WE GOT HIS CAR OUTTA THE WATER.
AND WE FOUND RUSSELL, THE, THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WERE THERE, EVERYBODY, THEIR HEAD HELD LOW.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT BRING FURTHER HARM TO THOSE MEN AND WOMEN BY MAKING STATEMENTS THAT HAVE NO BASIS, THAT ARE NOT INFORMED.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE CALL ME AND ASK ME.
AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND HOW WE PREPARED AND HOW THIS, I'M SORRY THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED OR NOT, BUT BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU SAY BECAUSE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN AROUND US THAT ARE OUT THERE, IT MATTERS.
WORDS MATTER TO THE RICHARDSON FAMILY WHO I'VE HAD TO TALK TO AND TELL THAT THIS NARRATIVE IS NOW OUT THERE.
AND SHE WAS DEVASTATED BECAUSE SHE KNOWS HER HUSBAND AND SHE KNOWS WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HE'S DOING.
AND SHE KNOWS HIS LEVEL OF DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE IS HEARTBROKEN AGAIN AFTER LOSING HER HUSBAND, AFTER THE KIDS LOSING THEIR FATHER.
SO I SAY AGAIN, TO ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL OR TO ANYBODY ELSE, MY PHONE IS ON.
YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING OR HOW WE'RE DOING IT.
CALL, ASK, I WILL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING.
IF WE MADE A MISTAKE, I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO ADMIT IT.
BUT IN THIS CASE AND IN THIS STORM, WE WERE PREPARED AND WE RESPONDED, AND THEN WE LEVELED UP.
WHEN DID, WHEN WE REALIZED 3 MILLION, NEARLY 3 MILLION CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER AND ALL THE CASCADING IMPACTS THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE UPON THE CITY.
AND THIS WAS PROJECTED FOR WEEKS.
IN FACT, SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING THEIR POWER ON JUST TODAY.
WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE GOING TO BE AN, AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF DEMANDS FOR HELP.
WATER DISTRIBUTION, ICE DISTRIBUTION, FOOD SHELTERS, COOLING CENTERS, YOU NAME IT.
THERE WERE GONNA BE A MULTITUDE.
THOUSANDS OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS OUT A CITY COMPLETELY DARK.
THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT YOU KNEW THAT YOU, WE KNEW.
'CAUSE WE KNOW WE HAD THE EXPERIENCE.
WE ARE GOING TO NEED MORE PEOPLE AND
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WE ARE GOING TO NEED THEM FOR A LONG TIME TO MAKE SURE WE MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC.AND THEN MAYOR'S W RIGHT? WE ADDED TO THAT WHEN CHIEF NIM KID SAID, HEY, ON TUESDAY, I THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PAY TO HAVE ADDITIONAL OFFICERS COME IN.
WE, I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE, CALLED HIM WEDNESDAY MORNING, AND BY THURSDAY EVENING WE HAD A HUNDRED PROFESSIONALS ON TOP OF THE 80 DPS TROOPERS THAT WERE ALREADY HELPING US OUT TO HELP OFFICERS.
SO THE OTHER OFFICERS GO HOME BECAUSE WE WERE ALL ON TWELVES AND THEY WERE ON TWELVES AND THEY HAD THEIR OWN CHALLENGES AND WE WANTED THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO HOME AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.
AND THANK THANKFULLY THESE, THESE OTHER CHIEFS AND CITIES STEPPED UP AND SENT US THEIR MEN AND WOMEN TO HELP US OUT AND TO FACILITATE THAT.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ACROSS THE STATE.
AND I THANK THE CHIEF KID AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF VERSUS MANAGEMENT AND I THANK THE, THE LEADERSHIP OF THE STATE, THE GOVERNOR ONE FOR FACILITATING THAT.
AND IT'S A NEW MODEL THAT WE'RE GONNA APPLY, THAT WE'RE GONNA HELP MAKE IT BETTER FOR EVERYBODY IN THE STATE.
SO THESE, SOME GOOD THINGS COME, CAME OUT OF THIS.
BUT I STILL WANNA GO BACK TO RUSSELL AND FINISH WITH THAT.
THE MAN HAD A SENSE OF DUTY AND WAS WAS GOING TO COME IN AND GET INTO THE FIGHT ANY WAY HE CAN.
LET'S NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THAT.
ALSO, WE WERE SO PREPARED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FURNISH PROTECTION FOR THE CENTER POINT LINEMEN WHEN IRRESPONSIBLE PEOPLE STARTED THREATENING THEM AND PREVENTING THEM FROM DOING THEIR WORK.
WE PROTECTED THEM AT THEIR STAGING AREA.
AND AS THE LINEMEN WENT OUT INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THE PRESS KNOWS IT, BUT GOV, UH, PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS GONNA BE A THURSDAY TO RECOGNIZE OUR PREPARATION.
UH, I WANT TO THANK HIM, UH, FOR CALLING DURING THE STORM, SEEING WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE COULD DO TO ASSIST US.
WE ASKED HIM FOR ADDITIONAL GENERATORS.
SO IT WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WOULD CONFUSE THE PUBLIC ON CENTER POINT'S.
LACK OF PREPARATION WITH THAT, THE CITY WAS NOT PREPARED AND IT MIGHT'VE SAVED LIVES.
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH AND TO GIVE US THE DATA IN, IN, IN REAL TIME.
EXAMPLE OF OF WHEN WE STARTED PREPARING, UH, I WILL MAKE THE CASE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS PREPARED BASED ON THE WAY WE DEALT WITH THE RETRO
I WAS AT A LITTLE LEAGUE GAME.
THE STORM WAS SO BAD, I KNEW I NEEDED TO BE AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER.
WE GOT HERE AND THE DIRECTORS FIRST RESPONDERS, THE LEADERSHIP STARTED POURING IN HERE.
WE WERE PREPARED, HAD EVERYTHING BASED ON TOM MUNOZ AND HIS TEAM'S PREPARATION.
THEY SPENT THE NIGHT HERE, SLEPT HERE, CERTAINLY DURING BUROUGH, THEY NEVER LEFT.
SO TOM, WOULD YOU GIVE US THE DATA THAT SUPPORTS, UH, YOUR CONCERN AND YOUR GREAT TEAM'S PREPARATION? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANT ECHO LOUDLY WHAT CHIEF SENATOR WHITE SAID, UH, DURING THESE TIMES.
BUT I CAN TELL THE CITY THAT OUR TEAMS, WHEN I SAY TEAMS, I GO EVERYBODY FROM FIRST RESPONDERS 9 1 1.
PUBLIC WORKS WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK.
STARTING JUNE 28TH, WHEN WE STARTED GETTING LOOKING AT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE REPORTS, WE STARTED MONITORING.
WE STARTED SEEING JULY 2ND BECAME A CATEGORY FIVE IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN.
WE WERE MONITORING, STARTING TO HAVE THE CALLS.
AS TIME WENT ON DURING THAT TIMEFRAME.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT NOT ONLY WERE WE WATCHING THE WEATHER, WE WERE ALSO HAD THE FREEDOM FEST THAT WE WERE CONTINUOUSLY WORKING ON, MONITORING THAT, MAKING SURE PEOPLE WERE SAFE AS WELL AS MONITORING THE WEATHER.
AND WE ALSO HAD THE COPA HERE.
SO WE WERE ALL HANDS ON DECK AT THAT TIME.
WE HAD OUR FIRST, UH, ALERT MESSAGE GO OUT JULY 6TH.
WE MADE THE DECISION TO ACTIVATE JULY 7TH, ALL HANDS ON DECK THAT INCLUDED NOT ONLY THE FIRST RESPONDERS, SOLID WASTE PUBLIC WORKS, BUT ALSO THE NGOS.
WE WERE THERE, MADE LANDFALL MONITORING, AND OUR MEN AND WOMEN FIRST RESPONDERS WENT OUT AND THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM, HFD, MADE 3003 CALLS ALONG WITH 82 HIGH WATER RESCUES ON TUESDAY 24, 2,464 CALLS, HPD HAD 56 HIGH WATER RESCUES ALONG WITH THAT, TO CLEAR THE PATH FOR ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND EVERYBODY TO GET THAT NORMALCY BACK TOGETHER, WE WERE STILL IN A LIFE SAFETY SITUATION.
HFD ALSO RESPONDED TO 747 LIVE WIRE CALLS.
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THAT THIS WAS ALREADY SET IN PLACE.WE WERE ALSO MONITORING NEIGHBORHOODS, TRYING TO SEE WHERE THE IMPACT WAS.
ALONG WITH THAT, NOT ONLY WERE WE DOING LIFE SAFETY, WE WERE ALSO PART OF THE STABILIZATION OF THE INCIDENT ALONG WITH RECOVERY.
THE NUMBERS ARE ASTRONOMICAL OF ALL HANDS ON DECK.
THE MA THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE WERE MONITORING, WE ACTIVATED THE EOC ON THE SEVENTH, HAD ALL NINE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS REPORT THE NIGHT BEFORE FOUR THAT WERE AVERAGING 3000 CALLS THAT DAY.
ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE, OUR THREE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS WERE READY TO DO THE INTAKES THAT WAS NEEDED.
WORKING WITH TEEM, HAVING THOSE CALLS, NUMEROUS CALLS, WE DID 23 ALERT HOUSTON CALLS.
AND I HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT DURING THESE TIMES, WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME INTO OUR HECK, WHICH IS OUR HOUSTON EMERGENCY CENTER.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IT IS DISHEARTENING.
IT IS A HUGE SLAP IN THE FACE AS TO WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID AND THE THING THAT'S EVEN HARDER.
I LOOK AND SEE THE INVOLVEMENT FROM HIS OFFICE AND IT WAS ZERO FROM WHAT I SAW.
SO THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE VERY HARD FOR US.
OUR MEN AND WOMEN SPENT THE NIGHT RESPONDED, CONTINUED TO AND STILL CONTINUE TO, TO DO THAT.
SO THAT'S THE READINESS THAT WE'RE AT.
WE'RE STILL IN THE RECOVERY STAGE.
WE'RE STILL HELPING PROCESS PEOPLE TO GET BACK TO NORMALCY.
BUT I CAN SAY THAT THE CITY WAS PREPARED.
WE WERE RESPONDING AS EVERYTHING THERE IS LESSONS LEARNED.
THE MAYOR SAID WE WERE OUT THERE GETTING THOSE ICE, YOU KNOW, READY.
EVERYBODY WAS AFTER THE SAME ASSET, BUT WE WERE READY TO RESPOND.
REPRESENTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF PENA IS, UH, CHIEF WEST, WHO WILL GIVE US THE, UH, STATUS REPORT OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE FIRE AND EMS ON A, UH, TIMELY SEQUENCE.
UH, NOT TO REPEAT ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT WORK WITH OEM IN PREPARATION.
UH, WE STAFFED UP PERSONNEL, UH, STARTING JULY 6TH.
UM, AND THOSE PREPARATIONS INVOLVE NOT ONLY STAFFING OUR HIGH WATER VEHICLES, BUT EMBEDDING TEAMS WITH PUBLIC WORKS FOR SAW TEAMS TO CLEAR ROADWAYS IN CASE OF FALLING DEBRIS.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT EVERYONE SUPPORTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T WEAR THE UNIFORM OR THE BADGE.
WE HAVE VEHICLES THAT HAD TO BE SUPPORTED, THAT WERE STRAINED AND STRESSED, GENERATORS THAT WERE FAILING, THAT WERE STRAINED AND STRESSED.
SO OUR PARTNERS IN, UH, GSD AND HITS, THEY SUPPORTED THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WERE OUT MAKING THE RESCUES AND THE CALLS THAT, UH, CHIEF MUNOZ DESCRIBED, HE MENTIONED 3003 CALLS A DAY.
OUR NORMAL CALL VOLUME IS ABOUT 1100.
SO NEARLY TRIPLING THE CALL VOLUME.
THE MEN AND WOMEN WORKED COUNTLESS HOURS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THE CITIZENS WERE SAFE.
SO WE, UH, WE JUST WANTED TO REEMPHASIZE HOW HARD THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON WORK TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS, UH, AND MAKE SURE THAT LIVES AND PROPERTY ARE PROTECTED.
OBVIOUSLY I'VE SAID REPEATEDLY THAT PUBLIC WORKS IN ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, UH, SANITATION, SOLID WASTE PARKS, BUT PARTICULARLY PUBLIC WORKS, UM, IS CONSIDERED IN MY ADMINISTRATION.
RANDY, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE US A BRIEFING.
I THINK IT'S VERY FITTING THAT WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PREPARATION THAT GOES INTO THESE EVENTS.
SEVERE WEATHER IN THE HOUSTON REGION IS SOMETHING THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT NEW TO HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS.
WE CLOSELY MONITOR, IN FACT, ALL WEATHER EVENTS AS THEY TAKE PLACE.
WE'VE GOT TACTICAL AND OPERATIONAL SOPS SOGS TO ENSURE ALONG THE WAY THAT WE'RE AS READY AS POSSIBLE NO MATTER WHAT COMES.
AND DURING AN EVENT AND LEADING UP TO IT, WE HAVE MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY, UH, COORDINATION CALLS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT AND ACROSS THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT OUR ASSETS ARE POOLED TOGETHER.
WE ACTIVELY DRILL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH TABLETOP EXERCISES FOR VARIOUS SCENARIOS.
THAT INCLUDES HURRICANES, IT INCLUDES WINTER WEATHER, AND DURING AN OPERATIONAL EVENT, WE STREAMLINE OUR CHAIN OF COMMAND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FOCUS AND DESIGNATE THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
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HERE.HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF TIER ONE EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE BUILT-IN TRIGGERS ALONG THE WAY FOR WEATHER EVENTS TO MOBILIZE OUR RESOURCES AND OUR ASSETS AS NECESSARY.
AND WE ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.
ONE OF THOSE TRIGGERS, OF COURSE, IS THAT WE PRE-STAGE AND DEPLOY BARRICADES AT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FLOOD PRONE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IN FACT, THAT TRIGGER IS AS LITTLE AS A FOUR INCH RAINFALL TOTAL.
WITHIN A 24 HOUR PERIOD, WE MOBILIZE TO, TO DEPLOY THOSE BARRICADES.
AND WE DID THAT FOR THIS EVENT.
WHENEVER THERE'S A FORECAST THAT SAYS WE'LL HAVE SIX TO EIGHT INCHES OF RAIN, WE START TO CONVERT SOME OF OUR DUMP TRUCKS TO HIGH WATER RESCUE VEHICLES.
AND THAT'S WHERE OUR COORDINATION GETS EVEN DEEPER WITH POLICE AND FIRE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL ASSETS AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO CARRY OUT THE DUTIES THAT THEY HAVE.
FOR THIS PARTICULAR EVENT, WE ASSIGNED A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR TIER ONE EMPLOYEES TO RIDE OUT THE STORM IN STRATEGIC LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THAT INCLUDED OUR WATER AND OUR WASTEWATER PLANTS.
IT INCLUDED TRANSPORTATION AND DRAINAGE OPERATIONS FACILITIES.
THAT WAS A MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A 24 7 CONTINUOUS COVERAGE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OPERATIONS NO MATTER WHAT WOULD COME, WHETHER THE STORM WOULD BE LESS IMPACTFUL AS WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE OR MORE IMPACTFUL BEYOND WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN.
WE DID THAT AND AS THE STORM PASSED, WE CALLED IN THE REMAINDER OF ALL OF OUR TIER ONE EMPLOYEES AND WE ACTIVATED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OUR TIER TWO EMPLOYEES TO BE ON THE GROUND TO ASSIST US IN OPERATION EFFORTS.
THIS PARTICULAR EVENT HAD MORE WIDESPREAD POWER ISSUES THAN WE'VE EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE ACROSS THE CITY, AT LEAST IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.
IT WAS MORE IMPACTFUL FROM A POWER AND OPERATIONS PERSPECTIVE THAN WINTER STORM URI, YET WE DID NOT, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, EXPERIENCE A BOIL WATER NOTICE.
THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE PREPARATION AND THE READINESS EXERCISE OF ALL OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES AS THEY WERE LITERALLY SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR IN MANY OF OUR FACILITIES.
IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THIS EVENT, WE HAD EYES ON ALL 2,500 PLUS OF OUR SIGNALED INTERSECTIONS AND WE HAD INITIAL ASSESSMENTS DONE OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
WE CLEARED MORE THAN 1500 LOCATIONS WHERE TREES WERE BLOCKING STREETS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND WE CLEARED THOSE OUT WITHIN EIGHT DAYS.
THESE TYPES OF EVENTS IN YEARS PAST ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN THE CITY WEEKS, IF NOT MONTHS, TO ACCOMPLISH YET WE'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT.
AND ALL OF THIS IS TO SAY THAT WE CAN GET BETTER AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALWAYS DO AS WE CONTINUE OUR PROCESS TO RECOVER AND MOVE FORWARD.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE.
WE INSERT THAT INTO OUR AFTER ACTION PLANS ON WAYS THAT WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT, THE WAY WE CAN HAVE ASSETS AND OTHER, UH, THINGS IN BETTER PLACES IN THE FUTURE.
BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR EVENT, I SALUTE ALL OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS, FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THEIR PREPARATION, FOR THEIR EXECUTION.
IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS SERVICE TO THE CITY.
LEMME CLOSE BY SAYING TO HOUSTONIANS, WE FEEL YOUR PAIN, YOUR FRUSTRATION AND ANGER.
UH, GETTING THE POWER RETURN TOOK TOO LONG.
WE WERE IN CONSTANT TOUCH AND PRESSURE AND CENTER POINT TO DO BETTER.
THEY FAILED US ON COMMUNICATION AND DETECTION OF OUTAGES SO WE COULD FOLLOW IT AS CITIZENS.
THE ONLY PRESS CONFERENCE THEY HAD WAS THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WE HELD.
SO WE ALL KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE'VE GOT TO HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS PREPARED.
WE'LL DO THE AFTER ACTION REVIEW.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IN AUSTIN, THE COUNTY, AND EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO I JUST WANT TO CLOSE BEFORE I CALL UP MY TRANSLATOR THAT WE FEEL YOUR PAIN.
I POINTED OUT THAT A STORM LIKE THIS WILL ALSO POINT OUT YOUR VULNERABILITIES.
THAT ADMINISTRATION THAT COUNCILMAN POLLARD LIKES TO REFERENCE LEFT US A MESS.
THE GEORGE BROWN HAS NO BACKUP FOR LOSS OF POWER.
10 FIRE STATIONS DID NOT HAVE BACKUP POWER.
OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS THAT WE WANT TO TO USE AS COOLING CENTERS HAVE NO BACKUP POWER.
SO MY COMMITMENT TO HOUSTONIANS IS WE INHERITED A MESS, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA REST FOR WORKING AS WE TALK RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE MORE PREPARATION TO DO FOR THE NEXT STORM.
[00:30:01]
ANYONE TO SAY IMPLY THAT LIVES WOULD'VE BEEN SAVED IF WE'VE BEEN BETTER PREPARED.THE CITY STAFF DID EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE, BASING THEIR PASSION, THEIR EXPERIENCE, THEIR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY MUSTER TO DEAL WITH BURL.
AND UH, I THINK IN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL COME TRANSLATE TO I MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICK, DOUG, I'M SORRY.
TO EMPHASIZE WHAT IT DOES TO EMPLOYEES IF WE DON'T GIVE 'EM THE RESPECT WE MISS.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IS THE FACT THAT MISINFORMATION WAS PUT OUT, UH, WELL IN ADVANCE OF OUR STAFF BEING READY TO ROLL.
THE CHRONICLE DID A A HORRIBLE JOB MISREPRESENTING THE FACTS OF WHAT TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO THIS STORM COMING IN.
I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO 'EM.
THEY REPORTED OTHERWISE, AND THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THIS COMES FROM.
THEY'VE GOTTA DO A BETTER JOB.
IN FACT, ALL OF OUR MEDIA HAS TO DO A GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE THEY'RE REPORTING THE ACCURATE INFORMATION THAT COMES FORWARD.
THEY WERE, I STARTED RECEIVING CALLS SUNDAY SAYING, HEY, WHY IS THE DEPARTMENT DOING ALL THIS? THIS STORM'S NOT EVEN COMING IN HERE.
WELL, IT DID UP TO 24 HOURS BEFOREHAND.
IT WAS STILL GOING INTO SERGEANT TEXAS.
IT TOOK A HARD LEFT OR A HARD RIGHT AND COME STRAIGHT UP THROUGH KATY.
MY HOUSE WAS IN THE EYE OF THE STORM.
WE HAD OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES AT THE HPLU.
WE TOLD 'EM THE DAY BEFORE, STAY HOME.
WE HAD OFFICERS THERE STARTED COOKING THAT MORNING TO PREPARE FOR OFFICERS THAT WERE GONNA BE THERE OVERNIGHT SHIFT BECAUSE WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO 12 HOUR SHIFTS THAT EVENING.
I RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS INCLUDING ED POLLARD.
I RESPECT THEM FOR CALLING ME AND GETTING THE REAL INFORMATION.
AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT RIGHT UP FRONT.
OUR RANK AND FILE OFFICERS OUT THERE ARE BUSTING THEIR BUTTS TO MAKE SURE THAT CITY'S SAFE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE DAMAGE AT HOME.
WE STILL HAVE OFFICERS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THE SYSTEMS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
BUT THE REPORTING'S GOTTA BE CORRECT AND CENTER POINT.
THEIR LINEMEN ARE OUT THERE BUSTING THEIR BUTTS, BUT THEIR UPPER MANAGEMENT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THIS SHOULD HAVE WENT DOWN LIKE THIS.
THEY HAVE TO BE BETTER PREPARED.
UH, I DO WANNA MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE PRESS KNOWS THAT I APPRECIATE 'EM.
MY ADMINISTRATION APPRECIATES 'EM.
IT'S JUST DURING THESE CRITICAL TIMES, WE HAVE TO BE SO FACTUALLY CORRECT.
YESTERDAY, OUR FRIENDS AT THE CHRONICLE SAID WE OUGHT TO SPEND MORE TIME FIXING THINGS THAN WORRYING ABOUT CENTER POINTS PR WE DID NOT, THE CITY DID NOT ERASE THE CENTER POINT LIST GRAFFITI UNDER ONE OF OUR FREEWAYS.
SO I JUST URGE EVERYONE, NOT ONLY A COUNCIL MEMBER, ALL OF US NEED TO BE VERY FACTUAL AND REALIZE, UH, WORDS MATTER.
SPEAKING OF WORDS, ANNA, WILL YOU TRANSLATE FOR OUR SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENCE?
[00:36:35]
THANK YOU.UH, ANY QUESTIONS I WAS GONNA ASK YOU? UM, BUT YOUR REACTION ABOUT THE JOE BIDEN DECISION? WELL, FIRST I HAVE A PRETTY FULL PLATE.
UH, BUT, UH, I RESPECT, UH, THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION.
I THINK HE'S MADE, UH, ALL OF US PROUD WITH HIS PUBLIC SERVICE RECORD.
UH, I THINK HE COMPETES WITH ME FOR SPENDING MOST OF YOUR ADULT LIFE AND PUBLIC AS A PUBLIC SERVANT.
UH, BUT RIGHT NOW MY REAL FOCUS IS ON THE HOUSTONIANS AND THEIR RECOVERY AND, UH, TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR HOUSTON.
HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH COUNSEL? NO, I HAVEN'T.
I UH, I HAVEN'T HAD ANY CONTACT WITH THE COUNCILMAN.
WAS THERE ANY THOUGHT INCLUDED
I, UH, I WAS AT HOME FRIDAY EVENING WATCHING 10 O'CLOCK NEWS.
UM, I GUESS IT WAS SATURDAY NIGHT.
I HAD THE PROTESTORS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
BUT FRIDAY NIGHT, UH, I WATCHED THE NEWS.
UH, I'VE BEEN VERY CLOSE TO THE RICHARDSON FAMILY.
UH, THE LEADERSHIP AND RANK AND FILE OF HPD THERE, UH, I WAS THERE WHEN THE BODY WAS RETRIEVED.
IT'S, I'VE NEVER SEEN, I'VE NEVER SEEN A MORE HURT GROUP OF EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN SO YOU'RE, IT GETS YOUR ATTENTION.
THE STORY PAID RESPECT TO HIM.
AND THEN YOU GO TO A COUNCIL MEMBER SAYING, IF WE'D HAVE BEEN BETTER PREPARED, LIVES WOULD'VE BEEN SAVED.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THE IMPLICATION THERE.
PEOPLE ARE ANGRY, THEY'RE SAD.
SO HOW DO YOU CORRECT SUCH A MISSTATEMENT? WE ARE PROUD OF THE JOB WE DID.
UH, WE'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THE JOB WE DID.
SO THIS AFTERNOON, YES, IS TO CLEAR THE RECORD.
RUSSELL RICHARDSON'S LIFE LOSS WAS A TRAGEDY.
SO PLEASE DON'T INFER THAT HIS LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IF WE'D HAVE BEEN BETTER PREPARED.
SO, UH, HERE WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND WHEN WE LEAVE THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK.
'CAUSE WE GOTTA GET READY FOR THE NEXT STORM.
WE GOTTA HOLD CENTER POINT ACCOUNTABLE.
I WISH WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS GATHERED.
AND IN FACT, I SUGGESTED INITIALLY THAT WE ADDRESS IT WEDNESDAY AND COUNCIL.
BUT THE PASSION AND CONCERN WAS SO STRONG AMONG THE RANK AND FILE OUR EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES THAT, UM, THEY WANTED TO COME TOGETHER THIS AFTERNOON.
AND I RESPECTED THAT POSITION AND I THINK WE NEED TO CLEAR IT UP.
YOU CAN'T PLAY POLITICS WITH TRAGEDY OR STORMS. I PERSONALLY THINK THE SHOCK WAS DIRECTED TOWARD ME THAT MAYBE MY ADMINISTRATION WASN'T READY.
[00:40:01]
AND IT HIT OUR FIRST RETO PONDERS FIRST FIRE POLICE, PUBLIC WORKS, THOUSANDS OF CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT IT REALLY, REALLY DAMAGED THE RICHARDSON FAMILY.HE WANTED TO GO TO WORK AND, UH, MOBILIZATION OR OTHER MEASURES WOULD'VE NOT SAVED HIS LIFE.
WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO, AND SOMEONE HAS BEEN ON COUNCIL FOUR YEARS AND SEVEN MONTHS VERSUS MY SEVEN MONTHS SHOULD BE ADDRESSING THE DANGEROUS STREETS OF HOUSTON IN TERMS OF PUTTING BARRICADES UP THAT CAN REALLY PREVENT PEOPLE FROM DRIVING THROUGH HIGH WATER.
PUBLIC WORKS HAS ALREADY IDENTIFIED 49 OF THEM.
I KNOW OF ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED.
IN FACT, YOU GO RIGHT DOWN TO SHEPHERD ON THE WAY HOME, SHEPHERD AND 34TH STREET WILL FILL FULL OF WATER.
SO WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER, QUIT POLITICIZING ISSUES.
THERE'LL BE A TIME FOR A CAMPAIGNER POLITICS DOWN THE ROAD.
LET'S CONTINUE TO FIX HOUSTON.
MAKE PUBLIC SAFETY OUR HIGHEST CONCERN.