[Press Conference: "Chevron Houston Marathon | Public Safety & Winter Weather Briefing"]
[00:00:18]
MEDIA, THANK HILTON AMERICAS FOR HOSTING US, UM, TO DO THIS EVENT.
IT TAKES, IT TAKES AN HONOR, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO, TO CONDUCT THE EVENT.
AND, UM, WE CERTAINLY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE ENTIRE CITY AND WE'RE GONNA BE MEETING SOME PEOPLE RIGHT NOW THAT, UM, WE HAVE TO GIVE GREAT THANKS TO, UM, TO THE, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS AND WHAT THEY DO FOR US ON RACE WEEKEND.
IT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE, UM, TO CONDUCT OUR EVENTS THAT WE DO AND WE'RE SO PLEASED.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, AND WE COULDN'T BE MORE PLEASED TO HAVE HIM HERE TODAY.
AND I'M A PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE HIM RIGHT NOW.
EVERY DAY IS A GREAT DAY TO BE A HOUSTONIAN, AND EVERY DAY I'M HONORED TO BE THE MAYOR OF THIS GREAT CITY, AND TODAY IS A SPECIAL DAY BECAUSE WE GET TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE MARATHON.
AND, UH, CHEVRON, WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
IT'S BECOME A SIGNATURE EVENT FOR OUR CITY.
PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO PARTICIPATE AND VIEW IT.
AND, UH, WE CAN SPEND THE MORNING TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAD ECONOMICALLY.
THERE ARE JUST SO MANY THINGS YOU CAN SAY ABOUT THE CHEVRON MARATHON, AND AS WE PREPARE FOR WINTER WEATHER, THE CHEVRON MARATHON MUST GO ON.
SO I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO CERTAINLY DRESS APPROPRIATELY, BE SMART IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
BUT CERTAINLY AS WE PREPARE FOR THIS SIGNATURE EVENT THAT FOR YEARS HAS PROVEN ITSELF, WE ALSO HAVE SAFETY ON OUR MIND.
AND I HAVE COMPRISED THE BEST SAFETY TEAM IN AMERICA.
SAFETY NOT ONLY FROM THE ELEMENTS, NATURAL ELEMENTS, MOTHER NATURE, THE WEATHER, BUT ALSO SAFETY IN REGARDS TO LAW AND ORDER AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO ENJOY THEMSELVES AND KNOW THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS TO PUT ON A SAFE EVENT.
WE HAVE COLLABORATION FOR MANY AGENCIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING THE DPS, WHO HAVE TROOPERS ALONG THE ROUTE.
AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR POLICE CHIEF DIAZ, OUR FIRE CHIEF MUNOZ, RON MASON OUT AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER, THAT'LL BE LOOKING AT THE ELEMENTS, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE SAFEGUARDS THAT THEY NEED.
HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF SATTERWHITE, WE HAVE THE AGENT IN CHARGE OF THE FBI.
MR. WILLIAMS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
SO WE HAVE REALLY DONE EVERYTHING TO PREPARE FOR THIS SIGNATURE EVENT.
AS I HAVE THIS TEAM PRESENT AND WE ARE DISCUSSING THE WEATHER, I WANT TO ADDRESS FOR A MOMENT THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING AS A CITY TO PREPARE FOR THIS WEATHER THAT'S MOVING IN PROBABLY SUNDAY NIGHT, SUNDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 PM WE'LL GIVE AN UPDATE AT THE EMERGENCY CENTER, GETTING THE BEST IN, IN REAL INFORMATION, CURRENT INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICES.
WE'LL HAVE 10 WARMING CENTERS OPEN ACROSS HOUSTON AT SIX O'CLOCK SUNDAY NIGHT TO PROVIDE SHELTER AND A WARMING CENTER FOR ANY HOUSTONIAN THAT NEEDS TO GET OUT OF THESE WEATHERS.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL BE CHALLENGED TO WORK WITH THOSE THAT REFUSE TO COME IN OUT OF THE WEATHER, BUT THAT'S THE REASON I HAVE SUCH AN EXCELLENT TEAM.
WE HAVE TO BE DILIGENT, WE NEED TO HAVE FUN ON SUNDAY, BUT THEN WE WILL IMMEDIATELY SHIFT INTO THE FOCUS OF THE WEATHER THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
WADE, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE SUCCESS OF YOUR COMMITTEE, AND, UH, I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS INVOLVING THE CITY PARTICIPATION IN EITHER THE MARATHON OR IN OUR PREPARATION FOR OUR WEATHER.
WE'RE IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
NO ONE SEEKING SHELTER IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS
[00:05:01]
DID NOT HAVE A PLACE.SO ANY QUESTIONS AS WE GO BACK TO CELEBRATING THIS SIGNATURE EVENT? YES, ABBY, YOUR HONOR, I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID ON WEDNESDAY THAT THE CITY WORKED AROUND THE CITY'S CENTER.
PROVIDE, WELL, IT'S NEVER BEEN A FACTOR.
UH, IN OUR PREPARATION, THE TURNER ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL MADE IT A POLICY IN 2020 THAT IT HAD TO BE 24 DEGREES.
WE HAVE NEVER BEEN GOVERNED BY THAT.
IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY OUR CRITICS.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, WE GO NONSTOP.
WE'VE GOT THE BEST TEAM WORKING ON THE HOMELESS ISSUE WHEN WEATHER ENTERS THE PICTURE, IT JUST MAKES US DOUBLE DOWN.
SO ANYONE THAT NEEDS A SHELTER, GETS A SHELTER.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THOSE THAT REFUSE, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN WITHIN THE LAW AND OUR TRAINING TO PERSUADE THEM TO SEEK SHELTER.
AND IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
BUT IS YOUR ADMINISTRATION PLANNING ON CHANGING THAT POLICY LAW? WE DO NOT.
WE DO NOT GOVERN OURSELF BY WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DONE.
THAT WAS ON THE BOOKS SINCE 2020.
THE CITY WENT BY THAT WE'VE HAD SHELTERS OPEN LONG BEFORE THAT ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP.
2020 IS JUST A DATE THAT THE CITY ADOPTED A 24 DEGREE THRESHOLD.
WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF PREVIOUS PRACTICES, SO OBVIOUSLY ANY THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THROUGH THE, UH, ORDINANCE REFERENDUM CAN BRING SOMETHING TO THE COUNCIL.
BUT QUITE FRANKLY, I JUST WANT TO GET THE JOB DONE.
WE'RE NOT REGULATED BY PREVIOUS RULES THAT ARE VERY ARBITRARY.
WE DEAL WITH HUMAN NEEDS AND I'VE GOT THE BEST TEAM IN AMERICA, STARTING WITH CHIEF SATTERWHITE, MUNOZ, DIAZ, BRIAN, MYSELF.
WE'LL BE IN THE EMERGENCY CENTER ALL WEEKEND.
WE'RE NOT PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO ANY PREVIOUS THRESHOLD.
WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS.
AND WHILE I'VE ALSO GOT YOUR ATTENTION, LET ME JUST LET YOU KNOW, I'VE ALREADY CONTACTED THE KANSAS CITY MAYOR THIS MORNING AND ACCEPTED HIS, HIS WAGER.
HE WANTS TO BET SOME BARBECUE.
WHO'S GONNA WIN? I TOLD HIM, NOT ONLY DO I MATCH HIM, BUT I RAISED HIS BET BY THROWING IN SOME IRMA ORIGINAL MEXICAN FOOD
AND I ALSO TOLD HIM, DON'T SET HIS TABLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHY YOU PLAY THE GAME.
I TOLD HIM I HAVE A LOT TO DEAL WITH.
BUT WE WILL ENJOY THE GAME AND WE WILL, WILL, UH, LET KANSAS CITY KNOW THEY'RE IN FOR A FIGHT.
SO IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR US TO COME TOGETHER.
I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO CARE FOR THEIR FELLOW HOUSTONIAN, THE WEATHER, THE SAFETY FACTORS, AND LET'S, UH, CELEBRATE WHAT A GREAT CITY WE HAVE.
WADE, I'M READY TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU UNLESS ANY OF MY, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO EMPHASIZE AND WE WILL SPEAK TO OUR SPANISH SPEAKING, UH, FRIENDS AND RESIDENTS, UH, BEFORE WE LEAVE THE PODIUM.
WADE, YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD? THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT, DRESS PROPERLY, AND, UH, I'LL SEE Y'ALL OVER THERE ABOUT 5 45 SUNDAY MORNING.
MAYOR, WE KNOW YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO 365 DAYS A YEAR, WE HAVE THIS WEEKEND.
UM, AND ALL THE FOCUS AND, UH, ATTENTION THAT YOU GIVE TO US, WE CAN'T BE MORE APPRECIATIVE.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR AN EVENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE, UH, REQUIRES A LOT OF PLANNING.
UH, WE MEET YEAR ROUND WITH THESE FOLKS AND WE HAVE FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS PLANNING FOR A VARIETY OF CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE ON RACE DAY.
WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OVER THE, THE LAST 15 YEARS AND, UM, OUR COMMITTEE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS COULD NOT BE MORE THANKFUL FOR EVERYBODY HERE THAT, UH, THE SUPPORT US.
UM, FIRST I WAS GONNA JUST PASS IT ON TO, UM, CHIEF DIAZ TO ADDRESS THE CROWD ABOUT, UM, OUR PLANS FOR SUNDAY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, MAYOR.
UH, UH, THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT ALREADY HAS DONE IT FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, SO THEY'RE READY.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE TEAM WORKING WITH CHEVRON ON A DAILY BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SAFE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RUNNERS FINISH.
HOPEFULLY THEY ALL FINISH, BUT, UH, KNOW THAT WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE STATE POLICE.
THEY'LL ADD, ADD 30 TO 35 TROOPERS ALONG THE ROUTES AS WELL AS AIR SUPPORT DURING, DURING THE FLIGHT, DURING THE ACTUAL RACE.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AN ORGANIZATION, A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S DONE IT BEFORE HAS DONE THE HEAVY LIFTING.
SO WE'RE PREPARED IN EVERY ASPECT.
SO WE'RE READY TO PUT THIS ON AND, AND, AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
[00:10:01]
THE WEATHER, IF YOU'RE, ONLY THING I'LL ADD IS IF YOU'RE A WATCHING YOUR FAMILY MEMBER OR LOVED ONE RUN POLICE DRESS IN LAYERS, BUNDLE UP.MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING WARM AROUND YOU OR NEAR YOU SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER, UH, WEATHER RELATED EMERGENCY THAT WE HAVE TO USE A RESOURCE ON SOMEONE ON THE SIDELINES WATCHING THE RACE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US AND IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT RACE.
ONE THING I GOT SO EXCITED ABOUT THE MARATHON, NOT ONLY WILL WE HAVE THE MARATHON SUNDAY, WE'LL HAVE THE MLK PARADES ON MONDAY.
SO WE'LL BE WATCHING THE ELEMENTS AS WE GO INTO SUNDAY EVENING AND MONDAY.
BUT, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ENJOY, UH, TO COMING TOGETHER FOR THE MLK PARADES ON SUNDAY MORNING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WADE? I'M, I'M, I'M READY TO LET MY TEAM GO BACK TO WORK.
THANK YOU SPANISH, SIR, YOU GOT ANYTHING? APPRECIATE ALL THANK YOU, SIR.
WELL, NEXT I'D LIKE TO, UH, BRING UP ONE LAST QUESTION.
I, I'D LIKE MY STAFF TO, TO, UH, SPEAK TO OUR SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENT ABOUT THE SAFETY AND THE ENJOYMENT OF THE SHERIFF RON PARADE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE CITY SUPPORT.
WE CAN, COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
UM, AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR, LAR S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RACE DAY, UM, WHILE THE WEATHER IS LOOKING LIKE IT'S GONNA GET, UM, RATHER CHILLY ON, UH, SUNDAY NIGHT, MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
UH, CURRENTLY SUNDAY MORNING'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD FOR RUNNERS.
UM, SO, UH, LET'S, UH, LET'S WELCOME DR.
SRAP TO ADDRESS A FEW ITEMS WITH THE COLD AND, UH, OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS AND PREPARATIONS.
UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING CHEVRON FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE FULL MARATHON AND ARAMCO FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE HALF MARATHON.
ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS AND THE MAYOR FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS RACE.
WE WORK WITH THEM YEAR ROUND TO ENSURE WE HAVE A SAFE RACE FOR OUR RUNNERS, AND THAT INCLUDES TABLETOPS AND BEATINGS AND THAT RELATIONSHIP'S ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL FOR OUR SUCCESS.
AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, THE MEDICAL OPERATIONS FOR THE MARATHON IS QUITE EXTENSIVE.
WE HAVE 22 AID STATIONS ON THE COURSE THAT ARE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF VARIETY OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING HYPOTHERMIA AND HYPERTHERMIA.
WE ALSO HAVE 25 BIKE TEAMS THAT'LL BE ROAMING THE COURSE AS WELL AS WE CREATE EMERGENCY ROOM IN THE GRB EVERY SINGLE YEAR WITH SOME ANCILLARY SERVICES.
AND THAT INCLUDES PODIATRY, MINOR MEDICAL CARE, MASSAGE, MEDICAL MASSAGE, UH, WE HAVE EVEN A CRITICAL CARE AREA IF IT'S NEEDED.
WE'VE HAD A PARTNERSHIP WITH HERMAN NOW FOR TWO YEARS, PROVIDING ECMO FOR THOSE CRITICAL CASES, CARDIAC CASES THAT MAY OR HOPEFULLY DON'T OCCUR.
UM, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE THE ONLY RACE IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOES THIS,
[00:15:01]
BUT THE BACKBONE OF OUR MEDICAL CARE REALLY BOILS DOWN TO OUR VOLUNTEERS.EVERY SINGLE PHYSICIAN, NURSE, TECH, MASSAGE THERAPIST, PARAMEDIC, EVERYBODY WHO'S VOLUNTEERING THIS WEEKEND IS DOING SO OUT OF THEIR KINDNESS OF WANTING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR RUNNERS.
WITHOUT THEM, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
ON OUR COURSE, WE ALSO HAVE APPROXIMATELY 20 AMBULANCE STAFFED BY ACADIAN, AS WELL AS THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MULTIPLE MEDICAL GATORS CARTS, WHATNOT TO TRANSPORT PATIENTS TO THE GRB.
NOW, IN REGARDS TO THE WEATHER, IT IS LOOKING LIKE A COLD RACE THIS YEAR, SAME AS LAST YEAR, BUT MAYBE A LITTLE COLDER.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A STARTING LINE TEMP OF ABOUT 35 DEGREES WITH THE WINDCHILL POSSIBLY IN THE HIGH TWENTIES, LOW THIRTIES, AND THE TEMPERATURE GET INTO ABOUT THE LOW, MID FORTIES, ABOUT EARLY AFTERNOON.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE A 10 TO 15 MILE PER HOUR WIND WITH GUSTS COMING OUTTA THE NORTH, UP NORTH UP TO 25 MILES PER HOUR.
SO FOR OUR RUNNERS, A COUPLE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO LAYER, LAYER, LAYER, LAYER, AND DON'T DISCARD YOUR LAYERS TOO EARLY, BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE THAT TURN AT THE 14 MILE MARK ON THE FULL OR THE EIGHT AND A HALF MILE MARK, ON THE HALF, YOU'RE GONNA BE RUNNING STRAIGHT INTO THE WIND.
SO KEEP YOUR LAYERS SO YOU CAN PUT 'EM BACK ON AND STAY WARM.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE FIVE WARMING BUSES ON THE COURSE AVAILABLE TO OUR RUNNERS IF THEY NEED TO HEAT UP.
ALSO, MAKE SURE YOU PROTECT YOUR EXTREMITIES, GOOD SET OF GLOVES, A HAT, GOOD SOCKS TO KEEP YOURSELF WARM.
YOU CAN STILL GET DEHYDRATED IN THIS WEATHER.
SO DRINK, WHEN YOU'RE THIRSTY.
IF YOU DECIDE TO STOP RUNNING, WE'LL HAVE SAG VANS AT EVERY FIRST AID STATION OUT THERE.
SO MAKE YOUR WAY TO A FIRST AID STATION.
THEY'RE SPACED OUT EVERY ONE AND A HALF MILES ON THE FIRST TWO THIRDS OF THE RACE AND ABOUT EVERY THREE QUARTER MILES ON THE LAST THIRD OF THE RACE.
AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO TAKE YOU BACK TO THE GRB IF NEEDED.
ALSO, REMEMBER TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.
IF YOU START HAVING CHEST PAIN, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, OR ANY SORT OF MEDICAL ISSUE, STOP AND SEEK HELP.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP YOU.
AND THEN FINALLY, MOST IMPORTANTLY, ENJOY THE DAY.
IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO BE RUNNING THROUGH THE STREETS OF HOUSTON.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO, UH, PAUSE AND GET READY FOR THE CHARITY PORTION, UH, THE RUN FOR A REASON PROGRAM, CELEBRATE AND IT'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY.
WE'RE GONNA PAUSE WHILE WE GET EVERYBODY SITUATED IN THE ROOM TILL THE BOTTOM OF THE, UH, BOTTOM OF THE HOUR HERE AT UH, 10 30.
UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN SPEAK WITH CORA, UM, OUR MANAGER OF OF PUBLIC RELATIONS.
SHE CAN SPEAK WITH YOU AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE DURING THIS DOWNTIME.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.