Strengthening Regional Resilience with New Technology 

How Centralina Is Leveraging Beehive to Support Smarter Emergency Coordination 

May 19 — As communities across the Centralina region face increasingly complex challenges, from severe weather events to infrastructure disruptions, strong coordination and clear communication are more critical than ever. That’s why Centralina is exploring innovative tools like Beehive to enhance regional resilience and improve how partners use tabletop exercises to prepare for and respond to emergencies. 

Beehive is a collaborative software platform designed to help governments, agencies and organizations share information, coordinate resources and align response strategies through a preparedness tabletop exercise event. Unlike traditional systems that operate in silos, Beehive creates a centralized hub where key stakeholders can access consistent, up-to-date information and bolster key community staff, partners and stakeholders with shared knowledge that matters most during critical moments. 

A Regional Approach to Preparedness 

Through the Regional Resilience Collaborative (RRC), Centralina brings together emergency managers, local governments and partner organizations to strengthen preparedness across jurisdictions. At the most recent RRC meeting, Beehive was introduced as a tool with strong potential to support this shared mission. 

The platform allows participating entities to be better prepared to: 

  • Maintain a common operating picture during emergencies 
  • Share situational updates quickly and efficiently 
  • Coordinate resource allocation across jurisdictions 
  • Improve communication between local, regional and state partners 

This regional approach to readiness ensures that no community is operating in isolation, an essential factor when emergencies cross boundaries and require coordinated action. 

Why Beehive Matters for Centralina Members 

For Centralina member communities, Beehive represents an opportunity to modernize and streamline emergency management practices. Smaller jurisdictions, in particular, can benefit from access to shared tools and systems that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive on their own. 

Key benefits that support readiness tabletop exercises include: 

  • Improved coordination: Reduce duplication and confusion by aligning response efforts across agencies 
  • Better decision-making: Access real-time data and updates to support informed actions 
  • Stronger partnerships: Build trust and collaboration through shared systems and communication channels 
  • Scalable solutions: Adapt the platform to meet local needs while remaining connected to regional efforts 

Additionally, the platform supports both day-to-day preparedness activities and large-scale emergency response, making it a versatile investment in community resilience. 

What’s Next 

Centralina is currently working with partners to evaluate implementation options for Beehive across the region, including contract structures and participation models. As this process moves forward, member engagement will be key to ensuring the platform meets local needs and delivers meaningful value. 

In the coming months, Centralina will continue to: 

  • Coordinate with regional partners on next steps 
  • Share resources and training opportunities 
  • Explore funding and implementation pathways 

By investing in tools like Beehive, Centralina is helping build a more connected, prepared and resilient region, one where communities can respond to challenges together, with clarity and confidence. 

Federal funds are commonly passed through state agencies in North Carolina before being awarded to local governments, which can make the original funding source less obvious. Before proceeding with a procurement, local governments should verify whether an award originates from a federal source. This determination affects compliance obligations, including procurement standards, reporting, and audit requirements.

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The micro-purchase threshold is a federal procurement threshold under which competitive procurement is not required. The default micro-purchase threshold is $15,000, but local governments may increase the micro-purchase threshold up to $50,000. An explanation of increasing the micro-purchase threshold and a template for the required annual self-certification is available here.