An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Dec. 12, 2011

Texas National Guard tours vital port to better understand, build relationship with local emergency response agencies

By Staff Sgt. Melissa Bright Texas National Guard

HOUSTON - Despite brisk winds and an unexpected drop in temperature, unit and section leaders with Joint Task Force 71, Texas Army National Guard, joined the Coast Guard and members of the Harris County Hazmat team for an extensive tour of the Port of Houston ship channel and interagency capabilities brief here last week.

JTF-71 is the command and control for the FEMA Region VI homeland response force, and as such provides defense support to civilian authorities to the state during disasters and other emergencies.

The Austin-based organization collaborated with the Port of Houston emergency response agencies for the tour to gain a better perspective of the complexity and diversity of the critical infrastructure key to the nation's economy.

The Houston Ship Channel has been, and remains, a catalyst for growth in Harris County since 1837. It generates jobs and opportunities that allow businesses and surrounding communities to flourish.

A 2007 study by Martin Associates found that ship channel-related businesses contribute to more than 785,000 jobs throughout Texas while generating nearly $118 billion of statewide economic impact. Additionally, more than $3.7 billion in state and local tax revenues are generated annually by business activities related to the port.

"The port is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located just a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico, ranked as first in the United States in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in the world.

More than 220 million tons of cargo passed through and 7,700 vessel calls were recorded through the Port of Houston in 2009," said Bill Hand of the Harris County Hazmat team.

Within the last two decades, concerns have shifted to from fighting wars outside the U.S. to combating small-scale, local attacks from dirty bombs inside our own borders. Dirty bombs are speculative radiological weapons that combine radioactive material with conventional explosives, hence the attribute "dirty."

The irradiation of such a busy commercial center and highly trafficked transportation hub, like the Houston ship channel, could have a crippling effect on the entire nation.

The Department of Defense moved to deal with such localized threats by establishing specialized National Guard units around the country, like Joint Task Force 71, with the skills to deal with dirty bombs, as well as weaponized biological and chemical agents.

"This October, the Airmen and Soldiers of Joint Task Force 71 completed the National Guard Bureau certification process to become the third HRF in the nation," said Army National Guard Col. Lee Schnell at the start of the information sharing portion of the day. "We came out here today to develop a solid foundation of communication and understanding of abilities with the agencies we will be partnered with before such a need arises."

With an overabundance of simple blasting agents all along the ship channel, such as mixtures of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, developing and maintaining relationships between the Texas Military Forces and area emergency response agencies has become one of the top priorities for the TXMF leaders.

"An inherent necessity exists for us to create relationships, build partnerships, and understand capabilities as well as limitations of various response agencies to have an effective response prior to an incident," said Army National Guard Maj. Bobbie Jackson, commander for the 6th Civil Support Team in Austin.

 

 

Related Articles
More than 800 National Guard members were activated in support of the 250th Army Birthday Festival and Parade in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2025. The Guard members, from the District of Columbia, Mississippi, West Virginia and Pennsylvania assisted various agencies with tasks including crowd management and traffic control, and played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of events.
National Guard Supports Army’s 250th Birthday Celebration
By Senior Master Sgt. Jason Melton, | June 16, 2025
WASHINGTON — More than 800 National Guard members secured the nation’s capital June 14 when the U.S. Army celebrated its 250th birthday. Guard members from the District of Columbia, Mississippi, West Virginia and Pennsylvania...

Crew members from the 1-130th Attack Battalion, North Carolina Army National Guard, support a static display during the U.S. Army's 250th birthday celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Saturday, June 14, 2025. The event honors 250 years of Army history and service to the nation.
North Carolina Guard Flies into Army’s 250th Birthday Celebration
By 2nd Lt. Bridget Pittman-Blackwell, | June 16, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The heart of Washington, D.C., became a landing zone June 14 when an AH-64E Apache helicopter touched down on the National Mall. It wasn’t a combat mission, but it was one just as powerful in symbolism. As...

Minnesota National Guardsmen and Norway Officers work together during the annual Cyber Shield training event held at the Virginia National Guard’s State Military Reservation in Va. Beach, 30 May - 13 June, 2025. Cyber Shield is the longest running and largest Department of Defense cyber exercise that is composed of nearly 900 N.G. and Army Reserve Soldiers, Airmen, civilian cyber professionals, and international partners from across the globe.
National Guard, State Partnership Collaboration at Cyber Shield 2025
By Staff Sgt. Hannah Tarkelly, | June 16, 2025
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Once a year, the National Guard invites cybersecurity professionals worldwide to attend a cumulative event known as Cyber Shield, where they can compete, learn and challenge their skill sets. Cyber...