News Release

Emergency Response Teams to Get Volunteer Help During Disasters

Harris County was the only county in Texas to be awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that will help fund the coordination of volunteer health professionals during major emergencies.

The grant, $50,000 this year and up to $50,000 each of the next two years if funds are available, will allow Harris County to establish a Medical Reserve Corps to assist emergency response teams, provide care to victims with less serious injuries, and remove other burdens that inhibit the effectiveness of doctors and nurses during a large-scale crisis. The Medical Reserve Corps is a component of President Bush’s Citizen Corps initiative to inspire and enable all Americans to find ways to serve their community.

“Houston obviously has some of the top medical professionals in the world,” said County Judge Robert Eckels, who founded the Harris County Citizen Corps Council in August 2002. “Many of these professionals are eager to volunteer. This grant is a terrific starting point to organize these individuals and have them ready when the next disaster strikes.”

The grant, initiated by Judge Eckels, was awarded to the Harris County Hospital District and Gateway to Care, a coalition of public leaders, health-care providers and community activists dedicated to the improvement of Harris County’s health care needs.

“This was a collaborative effort from several agencies,” Judge Eckels said. “Too many times local agencies compete with each other for grants. We all
recognized that we needed to work together to get this award. More importantly we all recognized, particularly since Tropical Storm Allison, that our emergency response teams need help during a crisis. Again, we have some of the best help available in the world right here in Harris County.”

Nationwide, 177 grant applications were submitted. Of that number, 42
were awarded. Harris County got the maximum award available.