Introduction

Emergency managers today are dealing with more data than ever before. From real-time traffic updates and stream gauge readings to shelter capacity reports, the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming. The problem isn’t that there’s too little data; often, it’s that there’s too much—and it’s not always actionable. EOCs need clarity, not clutter. That’s where the Community Lifeline Status System (CLSS) steps in, offering a structured approach that cuts through the noise. Built to operationalize FEMA’s Community Lifelines framework, CLSS gives state and local emergency management agencies the ability to cut through the data overload and get to what matters fast. It’s a tool designed to make sense of chaos, turning information into action when every second counts. So, what exactly is CLSS, and why should you care?

CLSS was built specifically to support existing EOC data and information gathering workflows. It helps agencies focus, assess, and make decisions on what matters: the right data at the right time in a common framework of understanding, Community Lifelines. Think of it like this—during a disaster, emergency managers don’t need every possible data point; they need the data that directly impacts their decision-making. CLSS organizes and tags datasets, whether it’s traffic patterns, flood levels, or available shelter space, with FEMA’s lifelines in mind, making it easier for agencies to understand, prioritize, communicate, and act. 

How CLSS Works: Registering and Managing Data

At its core, CLSS is a platform for managing live, dynamic data, and developing shared situational awareness. Users can register their own GIS resources—data layers, maps, tables—within the system. These are constantly updated in real-time. Picture real-time traffic flow reports helping you manage evacuations or stream gauges indicating rising water levels that could lead to flash flooding. It’s not about having all the data; it’s about having the right data to make decisions fast and effectively. 

Each dataset is tagged according to an affiliated FEMA Community Lifeline, components and subcomponents, making it easy to organize and prioritize during a crisis. Lifelines represent the essential services that must be maintained or quickly restored to stabilize a community—things like power, communications, transportation, and public health. By linking data to these lifelines, CLSS ensures that the most critical information rises to the top. 

Templates and Indicators: Tailoring CLSS for You 

One of the most powerful features of CLSS resides within its template capability. Communities faces different hazards in different places—winter storms in the Northeast, hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, wildfires in the West. Add to this that any one hazard impact to an area create impacts unique to each distinct jurisdiction and community involved. CLSS allows agencies to create and maintain custom templates that reflect the unique threats and impacts they may face. You can create templates for everything from a pandemic to a no-notice event like a cyberattack. 

Within each template are indicators—customizable, data-driven questions that help agencies assess their situation. Indicators are the real magic of CLSS. They allow emergency managers to translate the emergency or hazard related roles and responsibilities from their plans into specific, actionable data points, for more meaningful assessments. For example, indicators might ask, “Do we have enough shelter capacity at the special needs shelter?” or “Is medical transit operational?” These are the questions that help agencies make life-saving decisions. Each indicator can be weighted and prioritized based on the agency’s specific needs and values. 

Conducting Assessments: A Collaborative and Real Time Process

Once your templates and indicators are in place, CLSS allows you to conduct Community Impact Assessments. These assessments are simple and intuitive, letting agencies quickly categorize the severity of an issue—Significant Impact, Moderate Impact, Minimal Impact, or Unknown Impact. Simplicity is key. In an emergency, time is everything, and decision-makers need straightforward answers. 

Assessments aren’t just static reports; they are collaborative, real-time tools. Agencies can update information on the go, providing the flexibility that today’s disaster scenarios demand. Data is not only live but also mobile and easily shareable. This means that decisions can be made faster, and information can flow freely between teams. 

Reporting and Decision-Making: Turning Data into Action

CLSS is built to ensure that the data you collect isn’t just stored—it’s actionable. The system’s reporting tools allow emergency managers to analyze lifeline data at a glance. Whether you need a high-level overview of all eight community lifelines or a deep dive into a specific indicator, CLSS provides both options. 

More importantly, the reporting tools break down data silos. Data collected through CLSS can be automatically shared with other agencies in real time. Imagine multiple counties and states seamlessly sharing their lifeline assessments, offering a clear, data-rich understanding of the broader situation. This level of integration is essential in today’s complex disaster landscape, where events often span multiple jurisdictions. 

Built on Familiar Technology: Esri ArcGIS

CLSS is a missing link we have been looking for, leveraging the powerful, widely used Esri platform, to connect data and decisions. This ensures that the system is familiar to many emergency managers and GIS professionals, making it easier to implement and integrate into existing workflows. CLSS runs on a custom web application and data services architecture, but it’s flexible—deployable on ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise, depending on the agency’s needs. And perhaps most importantly, agencies own 100% of their data. There's no centralized FEMA portal, no national login. Local, state, tribal, and territorial emergency management agencies are in full control.

What's Next?

CLSS will be available for deployment starting in the spring of 2025, with early testing already underway in states like Maryland, Virginia, and large counties such as Miami-Dade and rural counties like Humbolt County, Nevada. These early adopters are testing the system’s capabilities, providing valuable feedback as CLSS prepares for its full-scale launch. Built to evolve, CLSS will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in emergency management, making sure that agencies have the tools they need to stay ahead of the next disaster. From real-time data management to collaborative assessments, CLSS is a glimpse into the future of emergency operations. As disasters grow in complexity, so too must the tools we use to respond. CLSS is that tool—a scalable, customizable platform that’s ready to support Emergency Management of the Future. 

The next in our blog series will take a look at the importance of data—what does it actually mean for you?