The Incident Support Task Force, managed by the Texas Division of Emergency Management, was created to assist jurisdictions that have been impacted by an emergency or disaster, to recover more efficiently by starting the recovery process early in the response phase.
The ISTF team consists of regional coordinators, finance coordinators, and voluntary agency liaisons throughout the state and specialists positions at TDEM headquarters for community and infrastructure recovery, mass care, voluntary organization coordination, as well as team and programmatic expansion.
History
Following Hurricane Harvey and recommendations from the “Eye of the Storm” report, the Disaster Recovery Task Force (DRTF) was developed through House Bill 6 from the 86th Legislative Session.
The DRTF was established by TDEM in accordance with Texas Government Code Section 418.0553, “to operate throughout the long-term recovery period following natural and man-made disasters by providing specialized assistance for communities and individuals to address financial issues, available federal assistance programs, and recovery and resiliency planning to speed recovery efforts at the local level.”
Today, the Disaster Recovery Task Force is one of many components of TDEM's Incident Support Task Force, consisting of local government employees who deploy to assist other local jurisdictions through the disaster recovery process.
Incident Support Task Force Capabilities
Incident Support Task Force members are capable of assisting local officials with the following (including but not limited to): mass care, community stabilization, volunteer and donations management, short and long term recovery solutions, emergency operations center needs, sheltering and feeding, debris management, disaster finance, communications, nonprofit support, voluntary organization coordination, and general emergency management guidance. The Incident Support Task Force operates throughout all phases of emergency management, providing specialized, localized, assistance for communities to guide and expedite local recovery efforts.
The Incident Support Task Force (ISTF) is a state resource, deployable under the direction of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, comprised of multi-disciplined, multi-talented, and high qualified subject-matter experts with experience in all phases of emergency management.
The Incident Support Task Force maintains a reservist roster comprised of local-level government employees who may be requested to deploy to assist other local jurisdictions in the response to and recovery from disasters.
In this “locals helping locals” effort, members deploy from unimpacted regions of the state to assist affected communities with all hazards.
How Do I Apply?
If you are interested in becoming a deployable asset to the State of Texas, follow the steps below to make sure that you are eligible and submit the application properly.
Step –1: “Eligibility” Select the link: “Membership Qualifications,” to make sure that you are eligible and submit the application properly.
Step –2: “Supervisor Authorization Form” As a part of your application, you will be required to demonstrate that your supervisor is aware that you are applying to the ISTF Membership Program. This form can be found on the first page of the application.
Step –3: “Application” You meet the qualifications and have discussed the program with your supervisor— now you are ready to apply to the program. Follow the link to the ISTF Membership Application, fill out and submit the application with a professional photo/headshot, a copy of your driver license, and signed supervisor authorization form.
Step –4: “Vetting” Now that you have successfully submitted your application, your information will be carefully reviewed by TDEM and ISTF leadership. Once approved, you will receive a notification alerting you the change in your application status and the next steps of the process.
Step –5: “Agreements” Once your application has gone through the approval process, TDEM and your home jurisdiction will execute a Memorandum of Understanding. Once this MOU has been finalized, you will be an active member of the ISTF and placed on a reservist roster where you may be requested to deploy to assist a jurisdiction in need.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email ISTF-Membership@tdem.texas.gov
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