Individual Assistance: National Mass Evacuation Tracking System

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NATIONAL MASS EVACUATION TRACKING SYSTEMS (NMETS)

OVERVIEW

To meet the responsibility of supporting State mass care evacuation operations, FEMA, through the ESF #6 Mass Care/Emergency Assistance Unit, has created the National Mass Evacuation Tracking Systems (NMETS).  NMETS is composed of manual and computer-bases systems and is designed to assist States in tracking the movement of transportation-assisted evacuees, their pets/service animals, luggage and medical equipment during evacuations. 

AUTHORITY

Sections 501, 503 and 512 of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006

ELIGIBILITY

All States who request State-specific evacuation requirements

IMPLEMENTATION

The system includes three distinct tools that can operate independently or be used in combination to support multi-State, State-managed, or local level evacuation operations.  The software and basic training are free to States.  Equipment and maintenance costs are the responsibility of the State

Paper-based Evacuation Support Tool (PBEST):

Offers a stand-alone system for States that choose not to adopt a technical solution either as cost considerations or as a result of infrequency of evacuation events

  • Serves as back up to existing technical systems when power or system operations fail
  • Inexpensive to produce, easy to manage
  • PBEST test kit can support 5,000 evacuees that can be deployed, if requested

Low-Tech Evacuation Support Tool (LT):

  • Designed to assist States that want a low-cost technical solution
  • Can be deployed on laptops in the field
  • Can be used alongside PBEST when enrollment demands exceed staffing or laptop capability
  • Development of the database has been completed

Advanced Technology Evacuation Support Tool (AT):

  • Designed to support multi-State, single-State, or local evacuation operations
  • Tracks the movement of transportation-assisted evacuees through all phases of an evacuation by use of the Internet, hand-held scanners, laptop computers, tethered USB scanners and/or RFID readers
  • Is adaptable to meet State-specific evacuation requirements 
  • Development of the database has been completed
Last Updated: 
06/21/2012 - 14:09
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