National Shelter System (NSS)
The National Shelter System (NSS) is a comprehensive web-based, data system created to support agencies (government and non-government) responsible for elements of shelter management. The NSS allows users to identify, track, analyze, and report on shelter data in a consistent and reliable manner. The NSS supports Emergency Support Function (ESF 6) - Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services.
FEMA plays a key role by supporting state and local agencies in the implementation of a coordinated, nationwide shelter system for managing information about shelter facilities, capacity, and population counts. The NSS, a premiere example of collaborative partnership, between the American Red Cross and FEMA, has produced a methodology to address one of the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina: An expectation for a single nationwide cohesive mass care system. NSS data will assist ESF 6 in developing strategies to support state and local governmental agencies in meeting the obligation to ensure prompt and effective mass care service delivery, especially during mass evacuations by:
- Providing a coordinated system for government and non-governmental agencies to manage shelter facility data.
- Providing a standardized tool to establish baseline shelter data, vital for comprehensive shelter planning.
- Providing local agencies with a tool to manage the shelter process through all shelter management phases: planning, alert, stand-by, opening and closure.
- Determining the potential number of evacuees that can be sheltered in a specific locale.
- Providing from the onset of any disaster incident the capability for informed shelter decision-making, contribute to the declaration process and speed recovery efforts.
Implementation:
- The current version of NSS is owned/maintained by the American Red Cross. FEMA will introduce the next version (federally developed and administered) Fall/Winter 2008/2009. FEMA Headquarters staff and Region Points of Contact (POC’s) will be providing updates as development progresses.
- FEMA and the American Red Cross are collaborating with identified ESF 6 state contacts to determine interest in the NSS and ensure data currently populated in the NSS is updated with the ultimate goal that data on all shelters will be represented in the NSS.
- FEMA staff will continue working to enhance awareness of the NSS among tribal, state, and local governmental and non-governmental entities, and provide training opportunities.
Point of Contact: Scott Richardson, FEMA Desk Line: 202-212-1097 or scott.richardson@dhs.gov.
Last Modified: Thursday, 04-Jun-2009 11:12:37 EDT