COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas Emergency Management Academy (TEMA) conducted a three-day disaster simulation Wednesday for its fifth cohort, giving trainees hands-on experience in emergency management.
The exercise placed around 25 participants in the fictional town of Needland in Granger County, which was struck by a simulated F3 tornado. Trainees assumed roles in logistics, operations, administration, public information, and emergency operations center (EOC) management, rotating between assignments throughout the day.
“This course has been awesome. We’ve been taking what we’ve learned the past eight months and really putting it into practice,” trainee Bianca Ramirez said. She served as EOC manager during the exercise, coordinating teams and communicating community needs.
The capstone exercise was the culmination of an eight-month program hosted by the Texas Division of Emergency Management at Texas A&M-San Antonio. Another cohort, based in Fort Worth, will conduct its capstone project later this month.
Lisa Rubey, a TEMA instructor and unit chief, said the exercises are designed to replicate real-world scenarios, including briefings, operational periods, and coordination among multiple emergency response teams. Trainees also practiced public information duties, including press briefings.
TEMA accepts 24 to 25 participants per cohort from a pool of over 100 applicants. Graduates often pursue careers with TDEM or as emergency managers across Texas. Participants come from diverse backgrounds, including veterans, students, and professionals in second careers.
After completing the capstone, the cohort will graduate at the Texas Capitol in Austin and apply their training to real-world emergency management roles.
For more information on the academy, visit tedm.texas.gov/academy.