Victoria Partners in Preparedness:

The Victoria Partners in Preparedness Program is a public-private partnership geared toward information and resource sharing before, during, and after emergencies and disasters.  Led by the Victoria Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the program is supported by a partnership between the Victoria OEM, the City of Victoria, the Victoria Economic Development Corporation, the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Houston-Victoria’s Small Business Development Center.

The primary goals of the program are to:

• Develop multiple means of communicating information between the local government and the providers of goods and services in our community in all phases of an emergency.
  
  
• Provide a forum for collaboration between like-entities so that issues can be solved at the lowest level.
  
  
• Establish joint training and exercise programs that involve “whole-community” preparedness and foster interest in private and not-for-profit preparedness.
  
  
• Make Victoria an attractive place to live and conduct business by supporting and encouraging private-sector efforts to build community resilience.

About the Partners in Preparedness Program:

• Information about current threats, weather alerts, and other important information are pushed out through email regularly, allowing local organizations to better serve their customers and protect their employees.
  
  
• Training and exercise/drill opportunities are regularly extended to the Partners.  In the future, Partners will be able to share opportunities with other members.
  
  
• During major emergencies, Partners are provided regular briefings, and are called upon to assist in the information-gathering process.  Specific Partners groups may be mobilized to assist in planning, responding, or recovering from emergencies.

The Victoria Partners in Preparedness Program is broken down into the following groups:

• Community Partners:  The largest group in the Victoria PIP, the Community Partners are comprised of owners and managers of organizations that conduct business in Victoria. 
  
  
• Special Needs Partners:  Special Needs Partners include public and private organizations that provide critical services to our special-needs population.  This includes hospitals and clinics, assisted-living facilities, home-health specialists, and even service businesses such as dialysis centers. 
  
  
• VOAD Partners:  Volunteer and faith-based organizations, ARES/RACES volunteers, the Victoria Animal Issues Committee, and many other services are organized under the VOAD Partners. 
  
  
• Education Partners:  Administrators from area school districts, higher-education institutions, and private schools are invited to join the Education Partners program.
  
  
• Public Works/Services Partners:  The Public Works/Services PIP is designed to help address all aspects of Victoria’s energy, communications, and transportation systems.

Becoming a Partner:

The Victoria Partners in Preparedness Program is open to any Victoria organization who wishes to participate.  However, in order to insure the appropriate personnel within each organization are involved, Partners should be:

• Owners, Directors, or Managers.
  
  
• Safety or Security staff (in leadership roles).
  
  
• Training staff.
  
  
• Individuals with operational control over an organization’s personnel and/or resources.
  
  
• Individuals authorized to make decisions regarding the health/safety of the organization’s customers and staff.

*Additional requirements for Partners Groups may be applicable.

Interested in becoming a Partner?  Follow the link below or contact:

               Victoria Office of Emergency Management
               oem@victoriatx.org                          

               John A. Johnston, PE, CFM
               Partners Liaison
               jjohnston@victoriatx.org

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