Emergency planners around the country are about to lose access to a critical hurricane evacuation planning tool

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The web-based tool, known as HURREVAC, is owned and paid for by FEMA, but administered by the Army Corps. of Engineers through an interagency agreement. That agreement has not been renewed, holding up the contract as well.

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Within FEMA, officials have been trying to get a new cooperative agreement approved for months, but this has been complicated by the department’s onerous contract approval process under former Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem.

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In a March 18 statement, the IAEM, which represents over 6,000 emergency managers, warned that disrupting the HURREVAC support tool, “Would deprive emergency managers of vital storm surge visualizations, exercise modules, and transportation modeling just as hurricane season approaches.” The group noted the HURREVAC contract only runs through Friday.

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“Any suggestion that this contract has lapsed is FALSE. The HURREVAC system remains fully operational and uninterrupted,” the [FEMA] spokesperson said in a statement. “The contract is being extended to ensure continued support for emergency managers as we prepare for hurricane season. HURREVAC is a vital resource for FEMA and our partners, and there is no risk to its availability.”

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