The portal will support more than 4 million members of the first responder community -- firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians -- pulling together several systems, simplifying services and eliminating duplication in the process.
"The feedback first responders will provide through this pilot launch will be invaluable as this innovative project moves forward," FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh said in a news release.
An initial release of DisasterHelp.gov had been slated for Aug. 31, and a statement of objectives — calling for $50 million to $100 million in services that include developing the architecture and design concept — was expected to follow, Ronald Miller, FEMA's former chief information officer, said in June before getting detailed to help the Office of Homeland Security.
The agency now plans to announce further developments in the spring of 2003.
RELATED LINKS
- DisasterHelp.Gov
- "Outsourcing might fix FEMA woes" [Federal Computer, July 1, 2002]
- "FEMA seeks wireless fix" [Federal Computer Week, June 24, 2002]
- "Reinventing FEMA" [Federal Computer Week, March 25, 2002]
