National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS)

Onboarding

Accessing Your Department Account

 

• • You will receive an email from NERIS prompting you to set up login credentials.
  • If you still cannot find this email, try resetting your password. If your email address is registered in NERIS, you will receive new login details.
  • Work through the following checklist to prepare for NERIS onboarding: NERIS-Onboarding-Checklist.pdf

• Reset your password here: NERIS - The National Emergency Response Information System

• • Follow the instructors for administrators logging in for the first time
  • After activating your account, sign up to direct report here: Request Direct Incident Logging - NERIS - Jira Service Management

• Submit a HelpDesk ticket here: Submit a Request - NERIS - Jira Service Management

NERIS IDs

Understanding NERIS IDs

• • NERIS IDs are assigned by the NERIS system and are based on the national Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) codes. These are standardized numeric identifiers for geographic areas in the US, ranging from states (2 digits) to counties (5 digits: 2-digit state + 3-digit county).
  • This 5-digit FIPS code forms the foundation of every NERIS ID. The last three digits in the NERIS ID are random to ensure uniqueness throughout a county.
• • NERIS IDs are structured like so: Department > Station > Unit
    • Department: FD (type) + XX (FIPS State code) + YYY (FIPS county code) + ZZZ (random 3 digits for uniqueness).
    • Station: The station ID hangs off the department ID – NERISID+S000
    • Unit: The unit ID hangs off the station ID -NERISIDS000+U000
  • In some counties, all departments – volunteer and career – report through the county under one NERIS Department ID; in other combination departments, volunteer departments can operate as subsidiaries of a career county department. The breakout of station and unit IDs enables us to trace fire incidents back to these unique entities. For more information, see
• • An FDID is a state-based identifier that states created in part to support NFIRS. FDIDs have some big limitations, to include no national schema and no guarantee for uniqueness across state lines.
  • Most states will maintain FDIDs for state purposes, but they will not be used at the national level. Moving forward, the US Fire Administration will leverage NERIS IDs instead of FDIDs because they are nationally unique identifiers.

Setting Up Your Account

Consult the “Preparing for NERIS Onboarding” worksheet as you set up your account. Populating this information helps us better understand and support your department.

• Who will act on behalf of the department through the onboarding and implementation process?

• • Will you integrate with a third-party application?
    • Yes
      • Follow the instructions on this guide to get your vendor integrated: NERIS+-Vendor-Integration-Enrollment.pdf
      • The following video walks through API Vendor Integration: Training on Vimeo
      • If you are still experiencing challenges, work with your vendor’s help desk.
    • No – I will use the NERIS data collection application
      • Designate a primary IT representative from your department to coordinate with the NERIS team
      • Request access to turn on direct entry: https://neris.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/3/group/6/create/10069

• Even if you use a third-party reporting system, it is recommended that every department have 2-5 users in NERIS.

• Keeping these details up to date ensures that fire incident data collection is accurate

• Refer to the Resource Typing Library Tool and NERIS Data Dictionary

• Input services provided by your department to support fire, EMS, and investigative services.

Reporting

• • For the latest information on future data schemas, check the NERIS Resource Hub: Resource Hub | NERIS
  • Learn more about onboarding through NERIS Events: Conferences, Webinars, and Events | NERIS
  • What are other users saying? What does NERIS data show us so far? Find out at the SIREN blog: Siren | NERIS