ArcGIS Blog

Defense and Intelligence

ArcGIS Solutions

Mar 20, 2025

Streamline National Guard disaster response with the Incident Awareness and Assessment solution

By Ed Harrell

Hurricanes. Wildfires. Tornadoes. Every year, large-scale disasters increase in frequency and intensity, bringing powerful winds, destructive flames, and deadly storm surges that significantly impact communities. When disasters like these overwhelm local and state resources, the National Guard steps in to provide critical support. However, limited access to technology and technical staff can hinder the coordination and communication necessary for an effective response. That’s where ArcGIS Solutions’ Incident Awareness and Assessment solution comes in.

Incident Awareness and Assessment is designed to help the National Guard maintain situational awareness, assess impacted areas, and enhance decision-making during domestic operations. It includes several apps tailored for the National Guard, ensuring that these organizations are well-equipped to respond to rapidly changing conditions within affected communities. To learn more about some of these apps, read on!

Understand impact

The IAA Manager app facilitates response planning by helping intelligence staff understand how a specific incident is affecting civilian infrastructure and military facilities. The app also documents incident information for briefing command leadership and tracks the status of Community Lifelines to help plan future operations and assess disengagement criteria.

 

A picture of an ArcGIS Experience Builder application.
The Incident Awareness and Assessment Manager Incident Information tab provides the intelligence staff with the ability to track an incident, such as the incident points and lines related to Hurricane Delta shown in this example.

Compile Data

When the intelligence team needs more in-depth analysis and information collection, they turn to Unclassified Processing, Assessment, and Dissemination (UPAD) staff for assistance. The UPAD Manager app helps UPAD staff compile incident information and create geospatial information products that relate to the team’s supported named area of interest (NAI), such as an analyzed image or a graphical intelligence summary.

 

A picture of an ArcGIS Experience Builder application.
The Incident Awareness and Assessment Manager Incident Information tab provides the intelligence staff with the ability to track an incident, such as the incident points and lines related to Hurricane Delta shown in this example.

UPAD staff can then use the NAI Collection Delivery Application app to upload and share collection products with state intelligence staff and command leadership.

 

A picture of an ArcGIS Instant App.
NAI Collection Delivery Application that allows UPAD staff to share collection products.

Maintain situational awareness

Maintaining situational awareness is crucial for National Guard domestic operations. Command leadership requires real-time information on rapidly changing conditions to make decisions and effectively manage response activities. The primary tool for providing this information is the IAA Command Dashboard app, which monitors incident impacts and response activities. It also keeps command leadership informed through lifeline assessments from the intelligence staff and geospatial information products from the UPAD staff.

 

A picture of an ArcGIS Dashboard app.
The dashboard provides a comprehensive overview to command leadership, displaying near real-time updates on the situation.

The Incident Awareness and Assessment solution can transform the National Guard’s approach to domestic operations. By offering real-time situational awareness, comprehensive impact assessments, and enhanced decision-making capabilities, the solution ensures that National Guard units are ready with more effective and coordinated responses, ultimately safeguarding lives and protecting communities from the devastating effects of disasters.

Learn more

For more information about the Incident Awareness and Assessment solution, check out the following resources:

 

Share this article

defense and intelligence emergency management incident national guard arcgis solutions

Ed Harrell

Ed Harrell is a Senior Product Engineer on the Defense Solutions team at Esri, where he has worked since 2023. Ed serves as the Product Owner on all National Guard-focused solutions. He recently retired from the Army National Guard and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, with nearly 25 years combined in uniform. He holds a degree in Emergency Management and has extensive experience in the use of GIS in military operations. Ed has also worked with Air Force facilities and mobility operations. Away from work, Ed trains in Aikido and is an avid baseball fan.

Commenting is not enabled for this article.