'It's about looking to the future': Houston, Harris County create Special Events Task Force

In the aftermath of the Astroworld Festival tragedy, Houston and Harris County have joined forces to form a Special Events Task Force that will aim to prevent a repeat of that deadly event.

It is tasked not with investigating the Astroworld tragedy, but rather with devising a plan to improve communications, procedures and permit requirements for future events, a report on ABC13 News said.

"It's about looking to the future, and not back on any one incident," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told ABC13 News. 

The Astroworld Festival, which was the brainchild of Missouri City-born rapper Travis Scott, was the scene of a crowd crush on Nov. 5, 2021 that claimed the lives of 10 people, including a 9-year-old boy. Scott and the organizers of the concert have been implicated in hundreds of lawsuits, the Houston Daily has reported.

Ten people have been named to the task force, including police and fire representatives, mayor’s office agents and others. The panel will meet monthly to discuss upcoming events and measures that should be taken to ensure they go off safely.

“As the county and city continue to grow their events portfolio, it is more important than ever to develop procedures that ensure public safety,” said Susan Christian, a member of the task force from the mayor’s office. “In the immediate aftermath of any emergency, clarity is crucial.”