The City of Laredo is approximately 150 miles away from any community that has the capability to assist us in an emergency. Due to this, Laredo is the primary Emergency Response mechanism to any emergency within our Region. In order to utilize Incident Command Procedures to their fullest potential, a facility must be dedicated for mid to large-scale emergencies. When needed, the City of Laredo currently utilizes a classroom facility as an Emergency Management Center. The need for additional security and isolation measures is necessary. It is for this reason that we respectfully request the funding to assist us in the construction and implementation of a new dedicated Emergency Operations Center.

Laredo is the main NAFTA corridor for the United States and correspondingly in Texas for international trade. Laredo has four International Bridges and is currently in the process of applying for a Presidential Permit to build a fifth International Bridge. Laredo carries 50% of all NAFTA related trade through Texas. Fifty percent of the trade that crosses through Laredo is Hazardous Material. United States, Mexico, Central and South America’s economies depend on secure bridges (the artery through which life flows for the business-trade sector). Terrorist actions or any disruptive situations would be detrimental to local, state, national and international economies. According to Laredo Development Foundation’s 2001 data, Laredo is the number one inland port in the United States with 2,772,537 annual tractor-trailer crossings and an additional 350,620 rail car crossings through our single railroad bridge. Almost half of the cargo that travels through the Laredo Corridor by land and rail carries Hazardous Materials. The Laredo Airport, a former U.S. Air Force Base, had 226 million pounds of freight land in 2001. Laredo has an enormous potential for a disaster involving Hazardous Materials due to the volume of Hazmat cargo, commerce, and tourism present on both sides of the border. Additionally, Laredo has over 60 million square feet of warehouse space and at least a quarter of that space contains hazardous materials and is highly vulnerable to Terrorism and Bio-Chemical Terrorism.

The County of Webb, in which Laredo is located, is the 6th largest county of the 254 counties in the State of Texas. It covers 3,360 sq. miles or 2,139,217 acres. As the second fastest growing city in the nation, Laredo has outgrown its boundaries. The City of Laredo, thru a contractual agreement, provides emergency services to all of Webb County. The County of Webb has 4 cities that the Laredo Fire Department services: Mirando City, Bruni, Oilton, and Aguilares. The Laredo metropolitan area posted the largest gain in population of any other city along the Texas border. Laredo has a population of 210,000 residents and its sister city, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, has a population of 600,000 residents.