Press Office
National Emergency Management Association
Karen L. Cobuluis
kcobuluis@csg.org
Press Release
August 31, 2017
NEMA and IAEM Develop Information Portal to Support Hurricane Harvey Recovery Efforts
August 31, 2017 (Lexington, KY) – The National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) and the U.S.A. Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM-USA) announce the development of the Public Private Partnership Unified Information Portal in support of Hurricane Harvey efforts. The purpose of this tool is to provide situational awareness for public and private partners. It has been developed through a collaborative effort by members of the NEMA Information Sharing Task Force, IAEM-USA Digital Engagement Committee and through input from the National Business Emergency Operations Center (NBEOC) members.
“As the nation has witnessed together, an event as overwhelming as Hurricane Harvey requires all Whole Community partners across our nation to take action in support of the communities and people in need,” said NEMA President Wendy Smith Reeve, deputy director, Arizona Department of Emergency & Military Affairs. “Not only have our EMAC members sent mutual aid support, but through a collaborative partnership with IAEM, our Private Sector members did something unprecedented. This portal puts into action the concept of operational public private partnership in a way not previously realized. We anticipate it will seamlessly transition from response to recovery and also be used for future events.”
“The Public Private Partnership Unified Information Portal is a valuable tool in the emergency management community’s effort to respond to the events in Houston and all impacted areas,” stated IAEM-USA First Vice President Nick Crossley, director, Hamilton County (Ohio) Emergency Management & Homeland Security. “The public and private sector are working closely together to address the needs of the victims of Hurricane Harvey, and by providing this valuable tool and information, citizens, businesses and government can share relevant information that can support life safety response today and community recovery later.”
The portal provides: situation reports, economic impact reports, form for resource and information requests, transportation status reports, FEMA Leadership Map Book, communications status, power status, water status, shelter information, and information for donors. This portal is not meant to replace the FEMA and state reporting mechanisms, or other information tracking efforts. It helps to connect the dots through situational awareness and information exchange with the private sector, and builds on the approach outlined in NEMA’s Building Operational Public Private Partnership Guide. As FEMA Administrator Brock Long said, “this will take the whole community,” and our organizations continue to support that charge through collaboration.
The tool is a dynamic and evolving tool. Users are encouraged to register to receive push notifications when necessary. Users are encouraged to share the tool with additional partners and to provide feedback.
About NEMA
For more information on NEMA, contact Karen Cobuluis, Media Coordinator, at (859) 244-8143 or e-mail kcobuluis@csg.org.
NEMA is the association of professionals dedicated to enhancing public safety by improving the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from all emergencies, disasters, and threats to our security. NEMA is an affiliate organization of The Council of State Governments, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky.
About IAEM-USA
IAEM-USA, the nation’s largest emergency management professional association, is a non-profit professional organization representing more than 4,500 emergency management and homeland security professionals for local communities, state and federal disaster officials, private sector, non-governmental organizations and others involved in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from all types of disasters including acts of terrorism. IAEM provides: access to the largest network of emergency management experts who can provide advice and assistance; the Certified Emergency Manager program; annual scholarships; a comprehensive monthly newsletter; and more.
The emergency management certification program was developed by IAEM with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and guidance from an advisory board, which included professionals from a variety of disciplines and representatives of key groups with a stake in emergency management.
IAEM Headquarters:
201 Park Washington Court, Falls Church, VA 22046,
Contact: Dawn M. Shiley, IAEM Communications Manager, Ph: 703-538-3542, www.iaem.com
