National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS)

Empowering fire and emergency services by equipping them with near real-time information and analytic tools that support data informed decision-making.
National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) Program
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The National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is an all-hazards platform designed to equip the fire and emergency service community with the data and tools needed to improve decision-making and enhance incident preparedness.

NERIS is a secure, cloud-based platform that integrates external data sources to augment baseline incident data. It enables local fire and emergency service agencies to access and utilize their own data, in near real-time, to inform mission-critical decisions. 

“Data, and the knowledge it contains, is in fact the life blood of the fire service for the future.”
—Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator

The NERIS platform is being developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), and the American fire service. This initiative is made possible through a research and development contract awarded to FSRI by DHS S&T.

Community partnership has been essential to the creation of this new system. Fire and emergency response leaders provided extensive individual feedback and will be involved through the national rollout. This collaborative approach leverages the strong relationships between fire service organizations and the scientific research community. 

Key Features

  • Enhanced data integration capabilities and significant computing power that reduce the burden on data contributors. 
  • User-defined, actionable analytic tools that support intelligence-led decision-making at the local level. 
  • Rapid integration and analysis of data from multiple sources, including computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems, geographic information systems (GIS), physical and field sensors, and records management systems (RMS). 
  • Bi-directional application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow integration with other relevant systems and data services. 
  • Flexibility and adaptability to meet the evolving needs of local fire services and first responders nationwide. 
"NERIS is being developed to evolve with the needs of local emergency responders and the USFA. The data collected and analyzed in NERIS will provide insights to first responders that empower decision making along the same timeline as hazards they face are changing."
—Craig Weinschenk, research engineer, FSRI
For questions about this program, please contact the NERIS Information Desk.

Published: July 13, 2023

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Stay Informed
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate, UL's Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) co-hosted a virtual discussion with Q&A where leaders shared the vision, purpose, and impact of the new National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) 2023- Dr. David Alexander, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell,Dr. Steve Kerber,Commissioner Adam K. Thiel

Modernizing the U.S. Fire Data System

Webinar

Watch the introductory webinar co-hosted by FSRI, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, and the U.S. Fire Administration on July 13, 2023.

About the National Emergency Response Information System

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