FEMA and NFL team up to make stadiums available for disaster relief

As Hurricane Helene heads north into the Gulf of Mexico and may pass through Atlanta, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is enlisting an unexpected partner in its disaster preparedness efforts: the National League.

The federal agency and the NFL are working together to ensure NFL stadiums can be used as “mission-ready sites” during major disasters, FEMA said in a news release.

“During large-scale emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes or tornadoes, we have seen how large music, sports and entertainment venues can serve as a safe space for communities,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.

Criswell called the partnership with the NFL “groundbreaking” and will make communities “more resilient.”

The then New Orleans Superdome was used as a camping site during and after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

FEMA says NFL stadiums are an ideal location because of their location and accessibility for everyone. FEMA says 73% of NFL stadiums are accessible by public transportation.

The stadiums that will become Mission Ready Venues are: MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home of New York’s Jets and Giants; Lumen Field in Seattle, home of the Seahawks; Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, home of the Steelers; Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, home of the Buccaneers. SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, home of the Rams and Chargers, is currently under evaluation.

“Stadiums are valuable community assets that are often used in times of disaster,” said Cathy Lanier, NFL Chief Security Officer, who also served as the former chief of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. “This designation reflects the role many stadiums play, not only on Sundays, but especially in times of emergency. We are proud to partner with FEMA and local and state emergency responders to ensure that emergency management agencies have the information and tools they need to help a community recover when disaster strikes.”