Public-private coalition to coordinate security spending at Houston port

A newly formed group has kicked off a major effort to help coordinate the spending of $31 million in port security grants in the Houston area. The Port Strategic Security Council met Tuesday to discuss plans for new security measures in and around the Port of Houston, which range from radar and hundreds of remote-controlled zoom cameras to underwater sonar. Extra security measures are deemed essential here because the Houston region has the largest concentration of energy infrastructure in the United States.

The new body is working to coordinate the spending of federal money that has gone to Harris County and the Port of Houston Authority to take advantage of economies of scale. The port authority has been implementing a host of security measures during the past several years using federal grant funds. This larger effort, however, will also tap private industry and other resources, including local colleges and universities. The $31 million announced last fall represents the latest security grants awarded to the Port of Houston Authority, along with the county.