Bridging the gap: Enhancing disaster recovery collaboration through data integration

• Peregrine helps state and local governments get more out of their existing data by integrating siloed information sources. 

• Public institutions can also leverage Peregrine to share data with nonprofits and private sector partners. 

• To enhance disaster response and recovery, Peregrine streamlines access to both real-time and historical data. 

In the wake of a major disaster, state and local governments are thrust into the critical role of coordinating recovery efforts. From ensuring public safety to rebuilding infrastructure and restoring essential services, these recovery tasks are both complex and urgent. At the heart of effective recovery is accurate data and real-time information that supports decision-making, resource allocation, and coordination among multiple stakeholders. Following a disaster, many governments also face the challenge of incomplete or fragmented data, which can impede recovery. 

To address this challenge, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) provides guidelines to help governments manage recovery across sectors like community planning, economic recovery, health and social services, housing, and infrastructure. But even with a robust framework in place — and a wealth of data at their disposal — state and local governments still struggle to access accurate, comprehensive information in real time. 

Peregrine empowers public institutions to get the most out of the data they already have spread across multiple systems, even incorporating data from nonprofit organizations and private sector stakeholders. By providing seamless access to reliable, real-time information on a unified platform, Peregrine bridges knowledge gaps and provides a holistic picture of community needs, allowing for efficient and effective recovery operations. 

The importance of existing data in disaster recovery

The NDRF underscores the value of information sharing and effective communication to coordinate recovery efforts. State and local governments often manage a vast amount of data across various information systems, including geographic information systems, building permits, infrastructure assessments, and public health records. This data provides a foundational view of the pre-disaster state of the impacted community. Once disaster strikes, officials use historical records combined with new information obtained during the response to understand the scope and extent of damages to both public and private property, along with disrupted services and residents’ immediate needs. 

However, in the midst of a disaster, it is easy to overlook how fragmented these datasets can be. Different departments manage different information, and many of their systems are siloed or disconnected, making it difficult to piece together a comprehensive picture of recovery. To combat this, Peregrine makes it possible to centralize and enhance the data already held by state and local governments, allowing decision-makers to make timely, informed choices without needing to reinvent the wheel. The platform integrates information from disparate sources and presents it in a simple, configurable interface, helping decision-makers easily identify and close gaps in understanding and ultimately streamlining recovery efforts.

Integrating data from nonprofits and private sector stakeholders

While government data is essential, effective disaster recovery also requires collaboration with other key players, especially nonprofit organizations, private sector partners, and community-based groups. These entities often hold critical insights into affected populations’ needs and resources. For example: 

• Nonprofit organizations might track the distribution of financial assistance, food, medical aid, and shelter. 

• Private sector stakeholders could provide insights into supply chain disruptions, business recovery, or utility restoration efforts. 

• Local businesses may have detailed information on the status of commerce, employee availability, and facility conditions, which can play a pivotal role in economic recovery.

By pulling together these types of diverse information, Peregrine provides a unified and interactive view of recovery operations, making it easier to identify deficits or unintentional redundancies in response efforts. For example, if a nonprofit organization is tracking the number of people accessing shelters, or if a utility company is providing power restoration updates, Peregrine can seamlessly integrate information shared by those stakeholders and an activated emergency operations center’s (EOC) liaisons. This enables real-time monitoring of recovery progress and helps officials pinpoint areas where deployed resources may be insufficient.

Breaking down silos with real-time data integration 

The ability to visualize integrated data is one of Peregrine’s most powerful features. It provides officials and response partners a real-time snapshot of the recovery process across multiple sectors, from housing needs to public health concerns and the restoration of utilities and critical infrastructure.

For example, in August 2024 — just days before Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida — Manatee County finalized an investment in Peregrine’s data integration technology. Manatee County Chief of Emergency Management Matthew Myers said Peregrine demonstrated immediate value during the Debby activation by improving situational awareness and providing unprecedented access to historical data. As a result, EOC personnel could monitor live data through a collection of comprehensive dashboards and maps. They could also access historical logs of that data later on.

Let’s explore a hypothetical scenario as well. Imagine a state or local government is restoring transportation services following a hurricane. While initial damage assessments may indicate that the physical transportation infrastructure is intact, the government may lack detailed information about how many people rely on transportation to access critical services, such as hospitals or grocery stores, employment, or schools. Peregrine’s data visualizations can help decision-makers flag those gaps by providing insights based on demographic data, transportation patterns, and social vulnerabilities, helping the government better understand the full scope of transportation needs.

By integrating additional information from nonprofit organizations that track displaced populations and private sector partners who assess business operations, Peregrine can help planners determine how to prioritize transportation recovery efforts based on actual demand, not just infrastructure status. This real-time data flow enables state and local governments to respond faster and more effectively to emerging needs, ensuring a more comprehensive recovery effort.

Enhancing collaboration and coordination across stakeholders 

As emergency management officials know, recovery is a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional effort that involves coordination among local, state, and federal agencies, nonprofits, private sector partners, and the public. Peregrine fosters this collaboration by providing a shared platform where all stakeholders — whether they are assessing housing conditions, delivering healthcare, or restoring utilities — can securely and compliantly share and access data. By creating a common operating picture, Peregrine helps prevent redundant efforts and ensures all recovery activities are aligned with the NDRF’s guiding principles of unity and collaboration. 

With access to a shared, centralized data hub, state and local governments can effectively communicate needs, exchange resources, and coordinate actions with partners across sectors and recovery support functions, whether they are managing debris removal, assessing housing needs, or restoring utilities. This ensures all partners are working with the most up-to-date and accurate information, leading to faster and more efficient recovery outcomes. 

Following Hurricane Milton, Manatee County continued to leverage the power of Peregrine throughout the region’s recovery process. Myers noted that because the county could assess damages faster, it secured major disaster declaration status faster, which meant receiving recovery funds faster. 

“In Milton, we were declared probably the fastest we’ve ever been declared since I’ve been working here, for eight years,” Myers told us. 

Manatee County Director of Public Safety Jodie Fiske added that the county received expedited reimbursement for debris removal following both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.  

“This technology is not just a huge benefit to us; it’s a benefit to our residents,” Fiske said. “The faster we’re able to do our jobs, the faster we can get them assistance.” 

How Peregrine enables more effective recovery by unlocking data

The recovery process after a disaster is an intricate and fast-moving challenge that demands timely, accurate information. Peregrine helps state and local governments overcome the challenge of data fragmentation by leveraging the wealth of data already available within government systems and integrating it with information made available by nonprofit organizations and private sector stakeholders. 

By identifying gaps in recovery data and providing a centralized, real-time view of the disaster recovery landscape, Peregrine supports the NDRF’s goals by enabling better coordination, enhancing situational awareness, and ensuring recovery efforts are based on the best available information. 

In times of crisis, timely access to data can make all the difference. With Peregrine, state and local governments can not only make informed decisions but also ensure all stakeholders are working together on an efficient, comprehensive, and equitable recovery process that meets the community’s needs and sets up residents for long-term recovery.

About Jenelle Masterson

Now serving as an emergency management public safety executive for Peregrine, Jenelle Masterson previously worked in the public sector as an emergency preparedness coordinator and emergency services manager before transitioning to the private sector to work in damage assessment technology. She holds a Certified Emergency Manager certification from the International Association of Emergency Managers and a graduate certificate in emergency management.