Welcome

Welcome to the Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (OHSEM) Web site. Updated daily, this Web site gives you the tools to get informed, get prepared, and get involved. An involved community is a well prepared community and your family’s partnership with Harris County is the foundation of our homeland security and emergency management strategy. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and OHSEM hope you will visit our site often. Download HCOHSEM Disaster Preparedness Guide here Download National Preparedness Month 2010 brochure here

What is Hazard Mitigation?

"Hazard Mitigation" means to reduce or alleviate the losses of life, injuries and property resulting from natural and human-made hazards through long-term strategies. These long-term strategies include planning, policy changes, programs, projects and other activities. Mitigation is the responsibility of individuals, private businesses and industries, state, local and federal governments. Hazard Mitigation Breaks the Cycle when recurrent disasters take place, such as flooding along a stream or creek, repeated damage and reconstruction occurs. This recurrent reconstruction is often more expensive as the years go by. Hazard mitigation breaks this expensive cycle of recurrent damage and increasing reconstruction costs by taking a long-term view of rebuilding and recovery following natural disasters. What are the Benefits? What are the Tools Hazard Mitigation? What can I do?