HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (Feb. 27, 2026) — Harris County Universal Services (HCUS) held its sixth annual Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) exercise earlier this month, welcoming more than 200 county partners, external partners, public safety agencies and regional stakeholders to NRG Arena. The ROC is an all-hazards annual preparedness exercise focused on the department’s continuity of operations plan (COOP) during large-scale events, including hurricane season and the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
This year’s event featured a two-phase scenario. Phase 1 focused on FIFA-related events and potential impacts to Universal Services’ core infrastructure. Phase 2 followed a hurricane scenario, detailing how HCUS teams would monitor a developing storm, manage an incident, and scale core infrastructure to meet operational demand.
Participants heard from Universal Services leadership, including Public Safety Communications, Information Technology, Fleet Services, 311, Business Operations, Public Safety, Human Resources, Enterprise Cybersecurity, Broadband Public Safety Technology, Applications and others as they outlined how they would maintain essential systems and services supporting Harris County residents, first responders, and the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected for FIFA.
Speakers included Universal Services Executive Director and Chief Information Officer Sindhu Menon, Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, FIFA Senior Manager for Safety and Security John Pepper, and Harris County Flood Control District Meteorologist Lance Wood. The collaborative event emphasized joint planning and training.
Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia emphasized the importance of preparation and partnership as the region prepares to host global events.
“Hosting an event of FIFA’s magnitude requires seamless coordination across agencies and jurisdictions,” Garcia said. “Exercises like Universal Services’ Rehearsal of Concept ensure that Harris County is prepared to protect residents and visitors while showcasing our region’s ability to deliver safe, world-class events through strong public service partnerships.”Harris County Fire Marshal Chief Christensen reinforced the importance of regional coordination.
“Harris County’s strength is our partnerships,” Christensen said. “Through joint planning, training and clear communication protocols, we are aligning roles and resources across jurisdictions to deliver a safe and successful experience for residents and visitors during FIFA and future major events.”
The event concluded with participants gaining a clearer understanding of HCUS continuity and scaling plans, coordinated response roles, and how critical county infrastructure supports the broader emergency management mission during both planned events and disasters.
HCUS Executive Director and CIO Sindhu Menon expressed appreciation for employees, partners and contributors whose collaboration made the exercise possible.
“The Rehearsal of Concept represents months of planning, coordination and dedication from our employees and partners across Harris County and the region,” Menon said. “I am grateful to our teams, guest speakers, and emergency management and public safety partners who work together to ensure our core systems and services can scale to support major events like FIFA and protect our community during emergencies. This collaboration is what enables Harris County to remain resilient, responsive and ready.”