The Kyle City Council approved a resolution on June 2 allowing the City to enter into a formal agreement with the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) to participate in the Texas Emergency Management Assistance Teams (TEMAT) program.
Established by the State of Texas in 2014, The TEMAT program is a network of trained personnel from cities and agencies across Texas who can be called upon to help communities during disasters, major emergencies, and other critical incidents. The program includes a wide range of specialized personnel, including emergency managers, public safety dispatchers, law enforcement representatives, heavy equipment operators, GIS analysts, and incident management team members.
“The (TEMAT) program allows communities across Texas to support one another when local resources become stretched during emergencies,” said City of Kyle Emergency Management Coordinator James Johnson. “By joining the program, Kyle can both provide assistance to other communities and receive support when we need it most.”
Employee’s participation in the program is voluntary. Employees may only be deployed if both the City and the employee agree to the assignment. Typical deployments last between seven and 14 days.
Under the agreement, the State of Texas reimburses participating agencies for 100 percent of eligible deployment-related expenses, including personnel costs, travel expenses, equipment use, and any necessary backfill staffing required to maintain local operations during an employee’s deployment. The City may also recover an additional five percent administrative fee associated with managing deployment documentation and reimbursement processes.
Several local emergency response organizations already participate in the program, including Hays County Emergency Services District 5 and Hays County Emergency Services District 9.
The approved agreement establishes a five-year participation period, though either party may terminate the agreement with 30 days written notice. City staff stated there is no direct fiscal impact associated with joining the program because all eligible deployment costs are reimbursable through the State.
Whether responding to severe storms, flooding, wildfire threats, prolonged power outages, or other large-scale incidents, the program provides an additional layer of support that can help the City maintain operations and recover more quickly.
“Preparedness isn’t just about what resources you have today. It’s about having partnerships and support systems in place before an emergency happens,” said Johnson. “Through TEMAT, Kyle gains access to experienced professionals that can help us manage larger or more complex incidents while continuing to serve our residents.”
