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GSA's preparation for Hurricane Season speeds recovery

Ed Perez working at desk

Disasters, unpredictable by nature, can strike anywhere at anytime; and as many of the residents of Louisiana and Texas have learned, Hurricane Harvey was no exception. 

GSA is responsible for leasing space throughout the United States and its territories based on need. When Harvey decimated parts of Houston PBS Region 7 Supervisory Realty Specialist Eduardo Perez and his team already had plans to put into motion. Months earlier, Perez’s team did market research and had a short list of potential joint field office (JFO) sites, should a disaster happen during hurricane season.

“Harvey was bad,” said Perez. “I feel like we were ready. Our preliminary research left us prepared and we were able to mobilize a lot faster.”

Perez’s research enabled GSA’s PBS Realty Specialist for Region 7, Ed Budzinksi, to write and secure a lease for a site to serve as FEMA’s JFO in less than 48 hours. Securing the four-building, 332,000 square–foot property off of I-35 in north Austin and giving FEMA the physical space it needed to lead relief efforts and help Louisianans and Texans begin their road to recovery.

 

 

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Last updated: Mar 2, 2023
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