FEMA Partners with VoiceNation to Create Hosted, Secure Hotline

By Calvin Azuri

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

VoiceNation is partnering with FEMA to create a hosted, secure hotline where FEMA team members can call in to receive disaster recovery services information updates. In a situation where FEMA's normal regional headquarters is damaged in the disaster, the service will offer instructions to FEMA staff and volunteers on where to report to do their jobs.

 

FEMA usually assigns a unique 4-digit code to each disaster. The system can be easily customized, so that a caller can simply dial into one number and enter the code to get the information they need to do their job. With the ability to handle hundreds of simultaneous calls, VoiceNation's disaster recovery services can handle important emergency communications, including voicemail support during a disaster.

 

In order to effectively manage federal response and disaster recovery efforts during emergencies, FEMA must maintain what is known as ‘continuity of operations’, by communicating with all of its onsite team members.

 

A FEMA telecommunications specialist said in a statement, "Voice Nation's technology delivers a single location outside of a terrorist or natural disaster event area where our team can call for information and guidance. We will be able to contact regional personnel and have them report to a specific location much faster."

 

"If we were to install a traditional PBX system for all 10 regions, plus headquarters, and upgrade the trunking to handle a higher call volume, and then get one big massive voicemail system with an offsite backup, and then administer and maintain the system, we would be looking at least a $300,000-$400,000 investment," the FEMA team member added. "With VoiceNation it's all covered with one low monthly fee, and we get crisis communications that we can count on."