The division, part of the Texas A&M University System, seeks $42.7 million in general revenue for the 2024-2025 budget, which the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) recommended in January, according to the documents.
Most of its funding, however, is federal — TDEM anticipates $2.3 billion from the federal government and $27.5 million from other sources. The projected total for 2024-2025 would be $2.4 billion.
TDEM oversees the State Operations Center, which maintains communications during emergencies. It is staffed 24/7 year-round and monitors, notifies, informs and coordinates when threats arise.
The division's website offers information on the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), links people to the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) program.
Technology spending in 2022 included $74.9 million to Gotham for purchased contracted services and $1.4 million to AT&T Mobility. These numbers are reflected by the state comptroller’s Payment to Payee data.
TDEM reported to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) until 2019, when it was moved to the A&M System.
“With more than 1,300 jurisdictions, 254 counties, an international border and a long coastline, Texas is constantly faced with unique problems you don’t find anywhere else,” a TDEM technical operations manager at the time said in the comptroller's monthly Fiscal Notes.
Leadership: Chief Nim Kidd is vice chancellor for disaster and emergency services under the A&M System chancellor, who in turn reports to the system's board of regents. TDEM is budgeted for 395 full-time staffers, but full-time levels are expected to drop by about 6 percent.
IT leadership: The A&M System CIO is Mark Stone, with an executive IT team of seven.
Of note: The agency will have its yearly Texas Emergency Management Conference from May 30 to June 2 in Fort Worth. Technical session topics include social media, the TDEM grant management system, geographic information systems, digital twins, communications technology, alert systems and surrounding problem solutions.
On Twitter: Texas Division of Emergency Management (@TDEM)
