MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. — The Mobile County Emergency Management Agency (MCEMA) has been awarded a $100,000 grant through the Gulf Research Program to help build a smarter, faster emergency response system designed to improve how Mobile County prepares for and responds to disasters.

The Gulf Research Program is run by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; it is an independent, science-based program established in 2013 as part of legal settlements following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The project will enhance MCEMA’s countywide Geographic Information System (GIS) platform, a centralized tool that combines scientific data such as weather and flood modeling with real-time information from emergency responders, municipalities, and community partners. The system is designed to give emergency officials a clearer, more complete picture during emergencies so they can make faster decisions and direct resources where they are needed most.

Mobile County Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Evans said: “This investment helps Mobile County continue building a more connected, data-driven emergency response system. Better information leads to better decisions, faster response times, and ultimately better protection for residents, neighborhoods, and critical infrastructure.”

As part of the initiative, MCEMA will lead a multidisciplinary working group that includes municipal representatives, the University of South Alabama, and community-based organizations. The group will focus on improving data sharing, standardizing reporting practices, identifying information gaps, and strengthening coordination across jurisdictions before, during, and after disasters.

The effort also emphasizes community-level information, helping emergency teams better understand neighborhood conditions, vulnerable populations, hazards, and response needs in real time during crises.

The grant-funded project is one of several Gulf Research Program initiatives involving Mobile County EMA. MCEMA is also partnering on two additional Gulf Research Program projects recently awarded grants: the Mobile County Disaster Health and Resilience Taskforce, led by the University of South Alabama, and the Safer Places Working Group, led by the Community Foundation of South Alabama.

Mobile is one of only three Gulf Coast regions selected for the Gulf Research Program initiative, alongside New Orleans and Houston. In each region, five connected projects are working to strengthen long-term disaster resilience, improve emergency coordination, and help communities better withstand and recover from severe weather and other emergencies.