On June 5, 2001, Tropical Storm Allison made landfall on the Texas coast. The Houston metropolitan area was among the hardest hit with some areas receiving up to 36 inches of rain in 24 hours. The southwest portion of the Bayou city, which includes much of the Jewish community, suffered severe flooding.  After a five-day rampage, a stalled out Allison caused 25 deaths and nearly $5 billion in damage to the area.

In the storm’s wake and in the aftermath of September 11th, the Houston Jewish Community Emergency Response Team was formed.  Following these disasters it became clear a strategic, cohesive and coordinated system was needed to plan and respond to future emergencies.  The team is made up of a representative group of Jewish professionals and key volunteer leaders who can prepare prior to any impending emergencies and immediately respond following crises.  Organizations including the ADL, AJC, JCC, JFS, Seven Acres Senior Care Services, the Houston Rabbinic Association and the Jewish Federation are represented.  In total there are 13-team members.  Each person agrees to be on call in the event of an emergency, or if unavailable, provides a pre-selected designee to meet on his or her behalf.  The federation and its Community Relations Committee (CRC) serve as administrative anchors for the team.

The purpose of the team is to share information, create coordinated and proactive assistance, and to effectively communicate the response with the Jewish and general communities.  This, in turn, provides a sense of security and cohesion.

Since its inception in the fall of 2001, examples of when the team has been activated include: the Columbia Space Shuttle explosion, the Indian Ocean Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. Colonel Ilan Ramon and his family made their home in Houston for five years while he trained to become Israel’s first astronaut.  Hundreds of Houstonians were waiting to welcome the crew home at Ellington Air Field on that fateful Shabbat morning.  By noon, thousands of mourners had gathered on the JCC/Federation campus to express their grief.  The emergency response team assisted with handling worldwide media, the coordination and security for the memorial service, as well as protecting the privacy and best interests of Rona Ramon and her children.

Immediately following the Indian Ocean Tsunami, the team activated to coordinate donations, participate in the Bush-Clinton fund and to again coordinate a memorial service with members of the faith based community, elected officials and the Consular Corps. 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina the emergency response team mobilized to coordinate rescues, reunification and recovery.  Thousands of volunteers were organized in order to provide food, housing, healthcare, education, transportation, career counseling, financial aid, as well as to meet spiritual needs.  Together with federations across America, over $28.5 million was raised to help victims of the storm.

Regardless of the crisis, communication is key.  Houston’s Jewish Emergency Response Team provides the necessary infrastructure for effective answers to devastating problems.  Through this collaborative effort, we have the power to rebuild lives. 

For more information please contact Lisa Yoram, Director of Community Relations and Government Affairs, lyoram@houstonjewish.org.