In order to assist you during an evacuation event, Harris County is providing a badge for essential personnel to use. This badge will be recognized by law enforcement in Harris County.

“Essential Personnel” is defined as those industrial facility personnel necessary to respond to an industrial facility in the surge zones as defined by the State of Texas for the purpose of securing the property and mitigating problems resulting from an event requiring area evacuation.
These personnel are meant to serve as an initial response to secure and prevent further damage to the facility or impact to the area. They also may begin assessment of damage, but are not there to begin major repairs or to restart the facility. ‘Essential Personnel’ may not exceed 10% of the employees for the industrial facility. The re-entry badge is valid for the badge holder only, and not for family members that may accompany them out during the evacuation.

Badges are approved on an industrial facility-by-industrial facility basis, based upon the following application. Upon notification of approval status, any variances from the approval can be addressed to the Badge Re-entry Committee.