Texas faces a range of emergencies due to its size and diverse geography, which includes the Gulf Coast, mountains, deserts, and forests. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has teams in place to address incidents such as crashes, floods, earthquakes, storms, and other unexpected events across the state.
Matthew Heinze, who serves as TxDOT’s emergency management coordinator and maintenance section support manager, oversees coordination between various TxDOT offices for emergency response efforts. “There's always some type of emergency in the state, at any given time, 24 hours a day, causing disruptions on our transportation system,” Heinze said.
Preparation is central to TxDOT’s approach. Plans are made for routes, protocols, and resources so that crews can act quickly and safely when an incident occurs. Heinze stated: “We don't always know how many people's lives we have saved, but I know we've saved lives as an agency.”
Decisions during emergency responses consider current ground conditions and their potential effects on both responders and local communities. Heinze emphasized the importance of individual preparedness: “Drivers need to have their own plan, have supplies ready, have their vehicle fueled up and have an area where they know they can go that would be safe for them and their family.”
Heinze also recommended adding an emergency plan to regular family routines to help people stay calm during crises. For those planning travel in Texas, real-time updates about traffic conditions and road closures are available at drivetexas.org.
Federal initiatives are also underway to improve readiness for emergencies affecting transportation infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration recently announced new guidance along with $7.3 billion in formula funding under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states prepare for extreme weather events such as wildfires and flooding (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-administration-announces-new-protect-formula-program-73-billion-bipartisan).
Other recent federal actions include nearly $20 million in grants awarded by the Maritime Administration to small shipyards across 19 states aimed at modernization and expanding employment opportunities (https://www.maritime.dot.gov/newsroom/maritime-administration-awards-nearly-20-million-funding-strengthen-us-shipyard-economic), as well as a $5 million Inclusive Design Challenge recognizing innovative mobility solutions for people with disabilities (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/anniversary-ada-usdot-announces-winners-its-first-ever-inclusive-design-challenge). Additionally, the Department of Transportation is advancing data-sharing partnerships through the FLOW initiative to improve supply chain efficiency (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-supply-chain-companies-collaborate-speed-movement-goods-cut-costs-consumers).
