Q&A with Allanzo Arrindell, Precinct 2's Safety Coordinator & Risk Management Specialist

1. Describe your role and how it impacts the lives of Precinct 2 residents.

As the Safety Coordinator and Risk Management Specialist, my primary responsibility is to ensure a safe working environment for our employees and contractors by proactively identifying and mitigating hazards. I also play a key role in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. Through this work, I help protect both our staff and the residents of Precinct 2 when emergencies arise, ensuring we are ready to respond quickly and effectively to keep our community safe.

2. Can you describe a moment while working for Precinct 2 when you really felt the impact of your work?

One moment that stood out to me was this past winter when we opened a shelter that supported approximately 45 constituents. Seeing families come in from the cold and potentially dangerous weather into a safe, warm, and comfortable environment reinforced how important our work is and made me truly proud of the impact we can have on people’s lives.

3. As we begin hurricane season, give an overview of the ways your team prepares for a weather emergency that has a direct effect on the safety of our residents.

Our team prepares for weather emergencies by inspecting and verifying all designated shelter locations, ensuring every team member clearly understands their specific role during an event, and pre-staging emergency supplies for distribution pods. These steps allow us to respond quickly and effectively, helping to keep Precinct 2 residents safe during severe weather.

4. In your experience, what is a common preparation step that can be overlooked but is very important? What tip can you share?

A very important but often overlooked step is making sure you have a reliable way to stay informed during an emergency. My tip is to include a battery-powered or hand-crank emergency radio in your preparedness kit. In situations where cell service and power are out for extended periods, a radio can be a lifesaver for receiving critical updates from local authorities.

Allanzo Arrindell is a Safety Coordinator and RiskManagement Specialist with Harris County Precinct 2. Originally from St.Vincent and the Grenadines, he served 20 years in the United States MarineCorps before joining the Precinct a year and a half ago. Allanzo has beenmarried to his wife Dawn for 12 years, and they are proud parents of threechildren.