The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) supports OWI’s emergency preparedness and response activities. It ensures operational continuity by safeguarding people, facilities, animals, and the Institute’s reputation, while fostering collaboration as a leader in emergency management.
The Wildlife Response Operations Center (WROC) coordinates emergency wildlife response across Texas and the Gulf Coast. As a cooperative initiative, the WROC engages partners including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas General Land Office, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, Port Corpus Christi, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Park Service. It leads disaster planning, training, and response operations.
The Port Corpus Christi Wildlife Rescue Center (WRC) is the nation’s leading coastal wildlife rescue facility. Since 2005, the WRC has returned over 5,200 animals to the wild. Facilities include intensive care and holding areas for dolphins, manatees, American black bears, mountain lions, sea turtles, American ocelots, North American river otters and an outdoor flight therapy facility for birds acclimating to South Texas weather before release. The WRC can house over 3,000 aquatic animals simultaneously during a wildlife disaster and is equipped with cutting-edge rehabilitation technologies.
To support field operations, the WRC maintains a deployable Aquatic Field Stabilization System (AFSS), including a mobile stabilization pool, weather protection, emergency power, water pumps and filters, and heating for cold-weather use. The AFSS can be transported and operated anywhere in Texas.
The Institute has also developed a wildlife decontamination system that connects to the WRC’s infrastructure for onsite response or can integrate with municipal utilities during remote deployments.
In the News
Real Stories. Real Impact.
From emergency rescues to long-term recovery, our work is making headlines across Texas and beyond. These stories showcase the power of collaboration, and swift action—bringing attention to the animals we serve and the resiliency we strive to build every day.
