Harris County Emergency Website Mobile-Friendly
Katy, TX News (August 3, 2015) – The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) has unveiled the third generation of its Regional Joint Information Center website, www.readyharris.org.
The website, officially launched in 2011, serves as the primary online emergency information site for the county’s more than 4.4 million residents. This updated version improves functionality and provides an optimal viewing experience for mobile devices.
“Communication with the public is critical to our successful response to any disaster,” said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. ”Residents expect timely information whether they are at home or on the go. The improvements made to the website make it easier for residents to get the information they need, when they need it.”
Completed in time for the 2015 hurricane season, the revamped website incorporates responsive display technology. Responsive websites adjust the size of the view and format the content to adapt to the device being used. Site content is clear, legible and full functionality is preserved.
The new layout prioritizes Harris County Alert messages and highlights real-time traffic, weather, school closures, power outages and flooding information in a centralized location. Through collaboration with other local offices of emergency management and public safety stakeholders, www.readyharris.org is a one-stop shop for the region during disasters.
“Harris County is a national model for emergency preparedness and response,” added Emmett. “Coordination with our partners to provide timely, accurate and life-saving information during emergencies is a key element of that success.”
A soft launch of the website occurred in May, allowing county responders to use www.readyharris.org during the recent flooding event that affected thousands. In addition to posting safety information, road closures and weather alerts, county officials used the website to gather information on the number of homes and businesses affected by the floods. This allowed for a better and timelier response, and easier sharing of information with residents.
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