TERT Committee

The Texas NENA chapter announces the formation of a new Task Force, the Telecommunicator Emergency Response Task force, also known as T.E.R.T. 

To provide a response network of trained and qualified Telecommunicators who are available to respond rapidly to assist public-safety emergency communications centers in times of manmade or natural disasters.

The North Carolina Chapter of NENA originated this task force in 2001 to provide staffing assistance to North Carolina PSAPs during times of FEMA-declared disasters when personnel are unable to make it in to an affected PSAP.  NENA-TX hopes to carry on the NC-NENA's goal of making this a nationwide task force by creating a partnership between Texas PSAPs and the Texas Department of Emergency Management to provide response to all communications centers across Texas regardless of size or participation during a disaster.  A trained team of Telecommunicators who are already familiar with another PSAPs equipment and protocols can provide a valuable solution to a short-term situation.

• Lisa Dodson - Harris County Sheriff
• Deborah Yarnell – South Plains Council of Governments
• Gina Larocca – Southeast Regional Planning Council
• Laura Moore – Orange County Sheriff’s Department
• Larry Bachman - Denton County
• Philip Jones - Texas State Comptroller's Office
• Andrea Kirkconnell - City of McKinney Police Department Communications Div.
• Deborah Turner - Montgomery County Emergency
  Communications District
• Russ Steffee - Montgomery County Emergency Communications District

• Toni Dunne - Positron Public Safety Systems 

T.E.R.T.'s first task is the formation of a steering committee to develop T.E.R.T.'s goals and objectives.  Any TENA member who would like to lend their experience to this task force and serve on the steering committee please contact Lisa Dodson via phone at 713.755.6911 or by email at lisa_dodson@co.harris.tx.us.