How REI Systems helps FEMA Govern Emergency Management Data

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is deployed in more than 10 regions worldwide and employs over 20,000 individuals. FEMA is responsible for leading the federal government’s emergency response activities before, during, and after a national disaster to save lives, reduce suffering, and protect property and the environment.

Every disaster can vary in size, severity, and damage. When a catastrophic disaster strikes, it can overwhelm the local and state governments to the point they cannot provide necessary resources. During these disasters, the federal government steps in to provide help through response support, federal programs, resources, and supplies. From 2020 to 2021, REI Systems data analytics and cloud experts joined FEMA’s Enterprise Data Analytics Modernization Initiative (EDAMI). They made it their mission to provide critical technical support, fill knowledge gaps, and work collaboratively to ensure FEMA’s long-term sustainability and success by harnessing the consulting and cloud prowess of REI Systems.

CHALLENGE:

Rapid Access to Data that Agencies Need to Make Critical Disaster Response Decisions

Emergency management data comes from many different systems and sources inside and outside the government, which means FEMA and its partners (State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial, or “SLTT” entities) must collaborate closely to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these problems, but the need for rapid, accurate information impacts nearly every type of disaster and aspect of FEMA’s mission, from preparedness and mitigation to response and recovery.

FEMA’s on-premises legacy architecture made it hard to bring data together and share it collaboratively across geographies, and security issues baked-in obstacles to data sharing. Together, these  factors made it challenging for FEMA to get data rapidly to disaster responders at all levels and geographies.

SOLUTION:

The FEMA Data Exchange (FEMADex)

REI brings deep experience helping government agencies move complex systems—and critical data—to the cloud. For FEMA, we combined that cloud expertise with emerging technologies to support smarter, faster decisions and empower a more effective workforce.

FEMADex is a cloud-based analytics platform designed to modernize how FEMA shares and uses data. It connects headquarters, regional offices, and field teams with a unified view—replacing siloed systems with shared dashboards and real-time insights. It also improves coordination with external emergency partners, helping ensure aid reaches survivors quickly and effectively.

Our FEMADex prototype and pilot phase, followed by the “Lessons Learned and Planning” transition phase, laid the critical functionalities groundwork the system depends on today:

• Integrates advanced analytics capabilities into the DevSecOps pipeline to identify legacy issues slowing down FEMA analysts to spin-up a personal or team workspace on-demand with a combination of cloud-based tools and services.
• Integrates advanced analytics capabilities into the DevSecOps pipeline to identify legacy issues slowing down FEMA analysts to spin-up a personal or team workspaces on-demand with a combination of cloud-based tools and services.
• Makes system more secure, accessible, and resilient via cloud computing by using the secure FedRAMP-certified Azure Government cloud and implementing both role and attribute-based access controls.
• Provides a centralized hub for FEMA data using Lakehouse architecture and intelligent search tools, so that information, dashboards, and reports are easy to find and share across teams.
• Shares information quickly and easily with SLTTs to help disaster responders save lives.
• Serves as a key enabler of the FEMA administrator’s initiative to analyze Agency operations for equitable mission delivery and outcomes.

This project represents a successful DevSecOps implementation. Cybersecurity vulnerability mitigation and adherence to security control requirements were built into the system architecture. The further integration of DevSecOps best practices into the Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery pipelines allowed FEMADex to secure a 3-year Authority to Operate (ATO) in 2024. This achievement demonstrates how the team reduced risk by building a secure solution from the ground up.

PARTNERSHIP IMPACT:

To Save Lives, FEMADex Makes Access to Information 40 Times Faster

With FEMADex, syndicated data from multiple sources is available 40 times faster, which enables disaster responders at every level to move more quickly, with the same accurate information. For example, during a surge of infections across the nation due to COVID-19, our FEMADex prototype helped analysts rapidly identify the resources patients needed to receive timely care.

Today, FEMADex provides analytic results in less than one hour versus the previous 48-hour turn-around benchmark. Our analytics solution helped FEMA streamline operations by reducing data duplication, cleansing, and re-creation with other stakeholders. At REI Systems, we support agencies that touch millions of lives using our advanced technology solutions because we continue to keep innovate with ease, FEMA can stay on top of disasters and control the flow of critical information cohesively, accurately, and securely.