Harris County Judge-elect Lina Hidalgo meets with emergency response leaders

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - On Thursday, Harris County leaders gathered at the Office of Emergency Management, because come January there's a new Harris County Judge in town.  Area emergency response leaders are preparing for a smooth transition.

The big introduction is happening now because when a tragedy like Hurricane Harvey hits, Harris County Judge-elect Lina Hidalgo will already need to be up to speed. Local emergency leaders are meeting with Hidalgo to do just that.

"We can’t predict a particular disaster. We can’t predict a particular emergency.  What we can do is make sure we’re all working seamlessly together,” says Hidalgo. The 27-year-old, who has never held political office previously, beat out incumbent Judge Ed Emmett and is making plans for taking over the job on January 1, 2019.

"We know that streets flood," Hidalgo says. "So how can we work to make sure folks receive warnings proactively so they don’t drive into high water?”

Hidalgo says her focus is safety, communication and transparency.  "For example, as we get the funds in for Harvey recovery, what’s being done first and why it was put there."

Harris County Judge-elect Hidalgo says she is meeting with a number of people to also see what areas need to be improved and how the county can run more efficiently.