COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) has deployed over 80 employees to support the state’s response to COVID-19, with a critical mission to help facilitate delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to healthcare providers and first responders. Recognized for training and technical assistance in emergency preparedness, response and recovery, TEEX was tapped by the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), to assist in this statewide effort.
The majority of deployed TEEX employees are members of eight Incident Support Teams (ISTs), supporting the Texas Department of State Health Services Regional Advisory Councils, part of the state’s Hospital Preparedness Program. The Regional Advisory Councils form regional trauma, disaster and emergency healthcare systems to help hospitals and healthcare facilities improve surge capacity and provide specialized medical personnel and equipment, including much needed PPE. The ISTs are collaborating with the Texas Military Department, Texas A&M AgriLife and others to facilitate receipt, inventory and distribution of medical commodities within those regions.
TEEX and Texas A&M Task Force 1 logistics personnel are working at the Prestige Ameritech facility in North Richland Hills to facilitate distribution of PPE directly from the manufacturing facility to designated locations throughout the state.
Several TEEX employees have also been working in the State Operations Center in Austin since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, where they help provide operational support and identify areas of need, matching those needs with TEEX capabilities or other agencies that can provide assistance.
“It is vital that our health care workers and first responders on the front lines have the personal protective equipment they need to stay safe as they respond to COVID-19,” said Governor Greg Abbott on April 6. “The Supply Chain Strike Force is working closely with the Texas Division of Emergency Management to exhaust all avenues for the purchasing and delivery of these critical supplies. We continue to make tremendous progress to distribute these resources throughout the state, and with more supplies on the way, we are strengthening our state’s ability to protect our health care workers and the patients they serve. I thank all of our health care workers and first responders as well as the supply chain workers who are working tirelessly to deliver this essential equipment to Texas.”
“Our employees are facilitating that ‘last mile’ of the supply chain to get the medical supplies and PPE distributed to the facilities and people who need it during this COVID-19 crisis,” said Ed Brickley, who is coordinating the TEEX efforts.
About TEEX
The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) is an internationally recognized leader in the delivery of emergency response, homeland security and workforce training, exercises, technical assistance, and economic development. A member of The Texas A&M University System, TEEX served more than 200,000 people from across the United States and 100 countries last year through hands-on training and technical services.