R E L I A N T C E N T E R
J I C
Joint Information Center

Hurricane Katrina Houston Response
Tuesday, September 20, 2005 7:00 PM
Contacts: 832.667.3192
832.667.3193
832.667.3188
Fax: 832.667.3187
WWW.HCJIC.ORG

NEWS RELEASE
Mission Fulfilled, Command Stands Down


Houston, TX - At approximately 7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 20th, the Hurricane Katrina Houston Response Unified Command ceased operation.

The unprecedented coalition of local, state and federal agencies, along with not for profit entities and nearly 60,000 volunteers ended operations with its mission fulfilled: “to provide temporary shelter, social services and relocation options” for the citizens in need of care. In less than a day a city was created which, at its’ peak, offered more than 27,000 people shelter, health care, child care, mental health services, housing assistance, travel vouchers, employment services and more.

The command team included Assistant Chief Rick Flanagan of the Houston Fire Department and Harris County Assistant Fire Marshall, Bob Royall. The operation was led by Lt. Joe Leonard of the U.S. Coast Guard. In closing the center, Leonard said “Our success is directly attributable to strong personal relationships developed long before the hurricane in Louisiana. Without a doubt, this was the most exhausting yet rewarding response I have ever participated in.”

Judge Robert Eckles, as head of the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management was the point of first contact and the chief administrator for the Reliant City Operations which included the Reliant Center, the Arena and the Astrodome. “None of us understood the magnitude of the job before us. We didn’t have time to ponder it;
we all just forged ahead and got the job done.” he said. “Many evacuees said how blessed they felt at coming to Houston but we, too were blessed with an opportunity to serve.”


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