TITLE: Honoring the Harris County Precinct One Community Emergency Response Team.

SUMMARY: Honoring the Harris County Precinct One Community Emergency Response Team.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Harris County Precinct One Community Emergency Response Team, led by CERT coordinator John A. Branch, has worked tirelessly to ensure that area communities are safer, stronger, and better prepared; and WHEREAS, After helping to rebuild in the wake of Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and Hurricane Rita in 2005, Mr. Branch, a longtime public servant, formed a team of volunteers to assist in responding to the needs of the local community; the Precinct One CERT holds free classes taught by first responders that equip citizens with knowledge and resources to assist their families and neighborhoods in the event of a disaster; the Houston program is part of the Mayor's Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Harris County Citizen Corps; in addition, CERT volunteers help with public events, such as the Extreme Weather Ready Expo and BP MS 150, and serve on planning and hospitality committees for future training events; and WHEREAS, Through the dedicated advocacy of Mr. Branch, Precinct One CERT opened a command center on February 19, 2022; the first volunteer owned and operated CERT center in the state, the facility serves as a location for emergency training classes and includes a food pantry and resource center for vulnerable residents; and WHEREAS, Since its founding, Precinct One CERT has provided invaluable assistance to the citizens of Harris County, and it is a pleasure to recognize the many significant contributions of this noteworthy organization; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby honor the Harris County Precinct One Community Emergency Response Team for its service and extend to all those associated with the team sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Harris County Precinct One Community Emergency Response Team as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. J. Johnson of Harris Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2260 was adopted by the House on May 29, 2023, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House