Incident Support Task Force

About the Incident Support Task Force

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.

  • Emergency Operations Center Support
  • Immediate Needs Assessments
  • Sheltering and Feeding
  • Debris Management
  • Damage Assessments
  • Procurement and Contracting
  • Engagement of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, Community Organizations Active in Disaster, and Long Term Recovery Groups
  • Disaster Finance
  • Volunteer Management
  • Mass Care (evacuation/sheltering)
  • Donations Management
  • Communications
  • Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) Assistance
  • Animal Services
  • Environmental Assessment
  • Transition Planning
  • Nonprofit Support
  • Disaster Recovery
  • Recovery Process Training
  • Community Education on Recovery Programs and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
  • Disaster Recovery
  • Assist in Identifying Planning Considerations for Recovery

Incident Support Task Force Headquarters Team

Ken Bell
Ken Bell
Section Chief, Infrastructure Stabilization
Denise Treadwell
Denise Treadwell
Section Chief, Community Support
Courtney Goss
Courtney Goss
Section Chief, Voluntary Agency Liaison
Victor Magaña
Victor Magaña
Unit Chief, Mass Care
Danny Caldwell
Danny Caldwell
Texas Community Recovery System Program Manager
Samantha Fabian
Samantha Fabian
State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registrry (STEAR) and Emergency Tracking Network (ETN) Program Manager
Samantha Holt
Samantha Holt
Community Resource Liaison
Izzy Eisenbeiss
Izzy Eisenbeiss
Program Specialist
Hannah Brittain Grote
Hannah Brittain Grote
Membership Recruitment Coordinator

Hannah Brittain Grote

Hannah.Grote@tdem.texas.gov
Hannah Brittain GroteHannah Brittain GroteHannah Brittain GroteHannah Brittain Grote
Jess Enriquez
Jess Enriquez
Executive Assistant

ISTF Regional Personnel

Marcus Nerios
Marcus Nerios
Region 1 Voluntary Agency Liaison
Travis Ward
Travis Ward
Region 1 ISTF Coordinator
Theresa West
Theresa West
Region 1 Disaster Finance Coordinator
Jennifer Nieder
Jennifer Nieder
Region 2 Voluntary Agency Liaison
Victoria Garner
Victoria Garner
Region 2 ISTF Coordinator
Raylene Pennington
Raylene Pennington
Region 2 Disaster Finance Coordinator
Emmitt Eldridge
Emmitt Eldridge
Region 3 Voluntary Agency Liaison
Sean Henninger
Sean Henninger
Region 3 ISTF Coordinator
Daniel Gaytan
Daniel Gaytan
Region 3 Disaster Finance Coordinator
Vacant
Vacant
Region 4 Voluntary Agency Liaison

Vacant

VacantVacantVacantVacant
Daniel Birch
Daniel Birch
Region 4 ISTF Coordinator
Rachel Wolfe
Rachel Wolfe
Region 4 Disaster Finance Coordinator
Leslie Sanchez Seaton
Leslie Sanchez Seaton
Region 5 Voluntary Agency Liaison
Marco Javier
Marco Javier
Region 5 ISTF Coordinator
Nancy Cuellar
Nancy Cuellar
Region 5 Disaster Finance Coordinator
Jacob Zamorano
Jacob Zamorano
Region 6 Voluntary Agency Liaison
Jonathan Esquivel
Jonathan Esquivel
Region 6 ISTF Coordinator
Angel Carvajal
Angel Carvajal
Region 6 Disaster Finance Coordinator
Luis Trejo
Luis Trejo
Region 7 Voluntary Agency Liaison
Erica Cordero
Erica Cordero
Region 7 ISTF Coordinator
Michael Diaz
Michael Diaz
Region 7 Disaster Finance Coordinator
Jeffrey Pearce
Jeffrey Pearce
Region 8 Voluntary Agency Liaison
Lauren Serrato
Lauren Serrato
Region 8 ISTF Coordinator
David Williams
David Williams
Region 8 Disaster Finance Coordinator
All Regions Map

Become an ISTF Member

Disaster Experts Supporting Local Emergency Managers

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