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New Homeland Security and Emergency Management director outlines priorities, wildfire evacuation planning
Summary
Jim Reddick, the recently appointed director of Austin’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM), told the Public Safety Committee he will focus on collaboration, plan realism, staff capacity and a wildfire evacuation plan as immediate priorities after reviewing prior after‑action recommendations.
Jim Reddick, who began as director of the City of Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) the month before the March 31 meeting, introduced himself to the Public Safety Committee and outlined immediate priorities.
Reddick said HSEM’s role is to build coordinated capacity across public, private, nonprofit and faith sectors for natural and manmade incidents, and to avoid law‑enforcement intelligence activity; “we don't surveil anybody,” he told the committee. He said the office will emphasize relationship‑building and an inclusive planning approach that incorporates community feedback and seeks to make plans accessible to those expected to act on them.
Reddick said he reviewed peer and after‑action reports that contain more than 80 recommendations from prior incidents (including winter storms and other activations) and that HSEM will use those recommendations to prioritize work. He identified the wildfire evacuation plan as a top near‑term project and said improving staff roles, training, exercises and budget planning are immediate tasks to address burnout and frequent emergency operations center activations.
Ending: Reddick said HSEM will pursue partnerships, data‑informed planning and community engagement to make emergency plans more realistic and actionable and welcomed committee questions.
