(Houston, TX) – The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo urge individuals who may require assistance during an emergency to register with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR). The STEAR program is a free registry that provides local emergency planners and responders additional information about community members who may have special needs or concerns during an emergency.
“We want to help residents learn about the services available in their communities should they need assistance in an emergency,” said Judge Hidalgo, Director of HCOHSEM. “There is no one-size-fits-all preparedness plan. Everyone has different needs, abilities and resources and we want to make sure our emergency professionals have identified folks who may need additional support in the event of an emergency.”
While anyone can register with STEAR, the program is designed to help emergency officials quickly identify people with disabilities or access and functional needs, including those who:
- Have limited mobility
- Have communication barriers
- Require additional medical assistance during an emergency
- Need transportation assistance
- Require personal care assistance
Registration is voluntary, and all information provided will remain confidential. Residents can register online at https://stear.dps.texas.
Registering with STEAR does not guarantee that residents will receive specific services during an emergency and should not be a replacement for an emergency plan. HCOHSEM recommends residents take steps to be self-sufficient until emergency services can reach them. Residents should remember to plan for pets.
