FEMA Selects Silanis Electronic Signatures to Speed Response to Disaster Victims in the Field

PR Log (Press Release) – Oct 06, 2008 – Silanis Technology, the leader in electronic signatures, announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a division of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has selected the Silanis ApproveIt Desktop solution to speed response to disaster victims in the field. FEMA will deploy Silanis’s electronic signature software to upwards of 6,000 of its field agents allowing citizens to electronically ‘sign’ critical release forms accelerating victims’ access to vital US Government aid in the event of a major disaster.  

FEMA is responsible for coordinating the response to disasters which occur in the United States and overwhelm the resources of local and state authorities. In addition to providing on-the-ground support of disaster recovery efforts, the Agency also provides state and local governments with experts in specialized fields and funding for rebuilding efforts and relief funds for infrastructure, in conjunction with the Small Business Administration. FEMA also assists individuals and businesses with low interest loans, and provides funds for training of response personnel throughout the United States and its territories as part of the agency's preparedness effort.

FEMA agents will spearhead the electronic signing process by having citizens ‘sign’ release forms on a PC tablet.  These forms will then be electronically transmitted to FEMA headquarters for processing and storage.

Silanis ApproveIt Desktop is a flexible and secure electronic signature solution that leverages common document formats such as MS Word, MS Excel, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Accelio and IBM Lotus Forms. The solution embeds electronic signatures within documents facilitating integration with existing content management and workflow systems.   Government and commercial organizations such as FEMA, the US Army and the Kansas Department of Transportation use the platform to accelerate approval processes, eliminate the cost of distributing and storing paper documents and to gain real time access to signed documents from any location or anywhere in the world.  

“Electronic signatures are proven to accelerate process, and in a disaster, time to respond is of the essence.  We have a tremendous opportunity to support FEMA and the DHS in speeding response to victims, allowing them greater opportunity to rebuild their homes and their lives in a time of great need,” says Silanis president, Tommy Petrogiannis.

About Silanis
Founded in 1992, Silanis Technology Inc. is the largest and most experienced provider of electronic signature solutions. More than 1,400 government and commercial organizations, representing 2 million users, depend on Silanis’ solutions to accelerate operations, improve service and reduce costs. The company’s solutions not only eliminate the inefficiencies of paper, they provide reliable and auditable business records needed to demonstrate compliance with applicable laws, standards, regulations and policies. For more information visit Silanis on the web at www.silanis.com