05/28/2026
At the center of Houston’s preparation for hosting major global events is Brian Mason, Director and Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Houston’s Office of Emergency Management. OEM supports Houston’s 671 square miles of service area and 2.3 million residents. Mason also serves as Executive Director for Houston TranStar, southeast Texas region’s transportation and emergency management center.
Recently speaking at a packed Westchase District Public Safety Alliance mtg at the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Westchase, Mason gave a behind-the-scenes look into how Houston is preparing for the World Cup and other large-scale moments.
One detail that stood out: ensuring emergency systems are ready for international visitors — including awareness that many European travelers are accustomed to dialing 112 instead of 911 during emergencies. Mason said the city has worked with mobile networks to automatically reroute 112 calls to 911.
He also discussed the importance of hurricane preparedness as we approach the 2026 season, encouraging residents to maintain enough emergency supplies for 3–7 days. He highlighted how Houston has significantly improved evacuation zone planning, communication, and regional coordination efforts over the years to better move residents safely and efficiently during emergencies.
