centers to assist victims on a long term basis.  Emergency operations centers 

at FEMA headquarters and at the Mount Weather facility near Bluemont, 

Virginia, coordinate response and recovery operations nationwide.   

In FY 2005, the EP&R directorate's CIO had a budget of approximately $80 

million and a total of about 400 full time and temporary employees.  The 

CIO's office is responsible for designing, developing, testing, implementing, 

and maintaining the operation of FEMA's systems, including the following 

four key applications:  

National Emergency Management Information System (NEMIS) is the 

backbone IT system for response and recovery operations.  FEMA uses 

NEMIS to electronically enter, record, and manage information regarding 

registered applicants for disaster assistance, obligations and payments, 

mission assignments, and grants. 

Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) forwards 

financial information to the Department of Treasury for payment of 

disaster assistance claims. 

Logistics Information Management System III (LIMS III) maintains the 

inventory of equipment and supplies. 

Automated Deployment Database (ADD) is used to identify and deploy 

personnel to disaster sites.   

With the exception of NEMIS, these systems were not developed by and do 

not solely belong to IT.  However, IT partners with EP&R program areas in 

providing support for these systems. 

The CIO's office manages and maintains the IT infrastructure, i.e., networks, 

databases, desktops, and telephone systems, to support operations of 

permanent facilities at FEMA headquarters and regional locations.  The CIO 

also is responsible for providing the IT infrastructure to support hundreds of 

emergency personnel at temporary disaster field offices and recovery centers, 

often in remote locations.  This involves running cable, establishing networks, 

supplying wireless connectivity, and installing equipment for information 

processing and data and voice communications.  In addition, a national IT 

helpdesk assists users in various ways such as providing and maintaining 

system accounts, ensuring remote access, troubleshooting systems problems, 

and making referrals to engineers for systems fixes.   

Emergency Preparedness and Response Could Better Integrate Information Technology  

with Incident Response and Recovery 

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