Austin’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management to get a communication tuneup, among other changes

An update from Ken Snipes, director of Austin’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management, to the Public Safety Committee showed a shifting approach in how the department is being run.

Snipes told the committee that, due to “a multitude of threats and threat types,” his department would be shifting to an “all hazards approach” that will apply the same methodology to people evacuating for a fire, a flood or a hazardous materials emergency.

During Snipes’ tenure, he said he’s seen three ice storms, severe thunderstorms and an increasing threat of wildfire.

“We know that we are starting to see these things more often,” he said. “The weather is becoming more volatile and more unpredictable. And it’s not just in your mind: It is getting hotter.”

Snipes said that in 2023, there were 28 climate disasters nationally that had an impact of more than a billion dollars, an increase over the previous record year in 2022, which had 20 such climate disasters. In addition, the average temperature across the country was 2.4 degrees higher than in the 20th century, contributing to the $17 billion 2023 drought in southern states and the looming threat of wildfire locally.

Snipes told the committee that his department had faced a number of long-standing challenges in addition to the increasing threats associated with climate change. Those include communication and workflow issues and staffing as well as a “misaligned cultural identity and ideology regarding operational responsibilities and expectations.”

Communications, he noted, was a huge concern. 

Mayor Kirk Watson concurred, noting he was “baptized by frost” soon after being elected in 2023.

“I think it was clear that, in a lot of ways, (in terms of) this department and the work that needed to be done, we weren’t taking care of some of the basic … services that our citizens expect and that we needed some stabilization,” said Watson. “We really appreciate the taking care of the basic services and organizing so that we will recognize success, and we’re supportive of what you’re doing.”

To help improve communication, moving forward, the city will be changing how staffing is done for emergency events, with all employees being considered essential or critical and 1 percent of each city department to be made available to staff emergency services, with a focus on better notice being given to staff who will be needed. 

“Typically, what we are doing now is trying to get that information out as early as possible. The plan is to create training sessions for people outside of the incident,” Snipes said. He explained that, in the past, they had trained staff in other departments just prior to the event or at the onset of the event. “We want to add to that process by having training throughout the year, so that people have a chance to be more comfortable and learn what their roles are.”

Snipes said that HSEM would also be focusing on developing a standardized process for after-action reports, better training and drills and increasing predictability for understanding their services overall. He is planning to make structural changes to the department, making it less vertical by adding more management positions. Snipes said they would be bringing that request to the new city manager in the future. 

In terms of wildfire, Snipes said the biggest challenge they were currently facing is evacuation, which is a massive, cooperative effort. 

“It’s going to take an entire city to manage something like that,” he said. “What is Transportation doing? What is Public Works doing? … That is probably the biggest issue that I see and that we’re working on.

“I think that the main thing for us right now is continuing to train, continuing to engage the community, to continue to push our message. To make sure … that everyone understands what they’re supposed to do and what they need to do when we ask them to take cover or evacuate or go to a shelter.”

In terms of department vacancies, Snipes said all of the newer positions that were funded in the wake of recent winter storms but sitting vacant for a spell were all filled or in the process of being filled, though there has been some issue with background checks and candidates not accepting the offered salary. 

“I would love to see those filled, since it’s now been years since we authorized those positions,” said Council Member Alison Alter.

Photo made available through a Creative Commons license.

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