The Calm Before the Storms: NDOW Training 2024

When I first received the invitation to join the Natural Disaster Operation Workgroup (NDOW) annual exercise in Galveston, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. I saw this as an opportunity to contribute to meaningful work and learn new skills for my role in media relations. Yet, the gravity of the task at hand, preparing for and responding to natural disasters, was overwhelming.

Meteorologists are predicting an especially active hurricane season this year, as the first tropical storm has already formed in the Gulf of Mexico. Experts are expecting 17-25 named storms, highlighting the importance of preparedness and coordination among communities and organizations. To ensure readiness, an annual exercise has been organized, allowing Federal and Texas State Agency participants to simulate response strategies, refine emergency protocols, and enhance communication efforts during a natural disaster.

The location for this year's NDOW Workgroup was Galveston which has a long history of responding to hurricanes. Particularly the infamous Hurricane Ike in 2008 and of course the deadliest hurricane to hit the US, the 1900 Galveston hurricane. There was a sense of determination from every agency to continue learning from the past and to better prepare for future storms.

Our first meeting took place in a conference room at the US Coast Guard Base in Houston. As I walked in, I was greeted by members from EPA, the Coast Guard, the Texas General Land Office, and fellow TCEQ staff. This year's exercise had us respond to a hypothetical category one hurricane that turned into a category three overnight.

Our workgroup leader, Anthony Buck, started the session off with a brief history of Galveston's encounters with natural disasters to remind us of our primary mission, getting Texas back to normal after a hurricane. The workgroup then identified a long list of objectives, resolutions, communication strategies, and proper management of our resources. Later that afternoon, the Public Information Officers (PIOs) were tasked with hosting a mock press conference. We sat down with our incident commanders and a list of questions that could be asked by the media. During the mock press conference, members of the workgroup acted as reporters getting information from the agency experts. Once the exercise was complete, we discussed what responses worked and how we could improve.

During the second day of training, our small group of PIOs were given a list of questions to divide among our respective agencies. Our task was to get accurate written answers from our incident commander to provide to our media partners. The collected information was then reviewed by our PIO group to ensuring that the information could be clearly understood by the public.

Throughout the week, I learned about the latest technologies in disaster response, such as advanced weather prediction models, drones, and efficient communication networks. Being from Corpus Christi and experiencing storms like Hurricane Harvey, I shared insights from my time working in local news covering storms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Beyond the technical discussions and exercises, one of the most rewarding aspects of the workgroup was the sense of camaraderie that developed. Over shared meals and water breaks, I got to know my fellow participants on a personal level. Building these connections with other agencies helps streamline communication when disaster does strike and provide efficiency in the state's comprehensive response to disasters.

Being part of the NDOW was not just an opportunity to learn and contribute, it was a chance to be part of something bigger. And as we enter the 2024 hurricane season, I left with new knowledge, valuable connections, and deep appreciation of the work and training that each member of NDOW provides to stand ready for when the next hurricane strikes Texas.

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