On August 27, 2025, the State of New Jersey made a decisive move to bolster its preparedness for future natural disasters, announcing a 10-year contract renewal with CGI, one of the world’s largest independent technology and professional services firms. The deal ensures continued development, enhancement, and support of the State Integrated Recovery Operations Management System—better known as SIROMS—a platform that has become the backbone of New Jersey’s disaster recovery operations over the last decade.
Originally developed in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, SIROMS has evolved into the state’s system of record for all natural disaster recovery efforts. According to CGI, the platform has managed the distribution of over $7.2 billion in recovery funds as of May 2025, supporting thousands of residents across the Garden State. It’s a staggering sum, but it reflects the scale of the challenges New Jersey has faced: between 2011 and 2024, the state endured 14 climate disasters, with costs to taxpayers exceeding $7.9 billion. That figure, cited by Rebuild by Design and reported by several outlets, places New Jersey fifth among all U.S. states for per-capita spending on climate-related disasters.
“Our partnership with CGI has been instrumental in helping New Jersey respond effectively to major disasters and prepare for those yet to come,” said Parth Sampath, contract manager for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, in a statement released Tuesday. “This agreement ensures we have both the technology and expertise in place to protect our residents and communities while reducing the cost and complexity associated with long-term disaster recovery.”
The renewed partnership with CGI is more than just a routine contract extension. It’s a testament to the effectiveness of SIROMS, which has not only modernized recovery operations but also increased transparency and accountability in the distribution of federal and state relief funds. The platform’s digital tools have enabled New Jersey to make faster, data-driven decisions, accelerating recovery timelines and providing much-needed clarity for residents and oversight officials alike.
One of SIROMS’ standout features is its robust reporting capability. Over the past 48 quarters, the system has tracked more than 10,000 individual reports—each one supporting the state’s quarterly progress submissions to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This level of detailed tracking is critical for audit readiness and financial traceability, especially when billions of dollars are at stake and public scrutiny is high.
But SIROMS isn’t just a New Jersey story. The platform has become a model of collaborative innovation, incorporating enhancements from other jurisdictions and exporting its own advances. For example, the system has adopted features from Puerto Rico’s public-facing disaster-funding transparency portal, giving New Jersey residents and officials alike a clearer view of where recovery dollars are going. In turn, innovations developed in New Jersey are shared with other states and local governments, creating a growing community of partners all working to strengthen resilience and streamline disaster recovery processes.
“Our ongoing partnership with the State of New Jersey reaffirms CGI’s commitment to helping governments enhance resilience and accelerate recovery from natural disasters,” said Scott Burghoff, Senior Vice-President & Business Unit Leader at CGI. “Our collaboration over the past decade has demonstrated the power of a modern, adaptable technology platform to serve citizens when they need it most.”
It’s not hard to see why New Jersey has doubled down on SIROMS. The state’s experience with Superstorm Sandy in 2012 was a wake-up call, exposing weaknesses in disaster preparedness and the need for better systems to manage the flow of federal recovery funds. In the years since, SIROMS has become a linchpin for the state’s recovery efforts, handling the distribution of billions in relief and ensuring that support reaches those who need it most, as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The numbers speak for themselves. As of May 2025, more than $7 billion in recovery funds have been disbursed through SIROMS, benefiting thousands of families, businesses, and communities across New Jersey. The platform’s ability to track over 10,000 reports has made it easier for state officials to demonstrate progress and compliance to federal agencies—a crucial factor in maintaining the flow of much-needed disaster aid.
Yet the challenges facing New Jersey are far from over. Climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and severe, and the costs of recovery are only expected to rise. The state’s ranking as fifth in the nation for per-capita spending on climate disasters is a sobering reminder of the stakes involved. That’s why, according to both state officials and CGI executives, continued investment in technology and innovation is not just prudent—it’s essential.
SIROMS’ collaborative approach, which allows for the integration of best practices and technological enhancements from other jurisdictions, is also helping to drive broader improvements in disaster recovery nationwide. By sharing innovations and learning from the experiences of others—like Puerto Rico’s transparency portal—New Jersey is helping to set a standard for accountability and efficiency that other states are beginning to follow.
The platform’s adaptability has also proven valuable as new types of emergencies emerge. While SIROMS was initially built to manage relief after Superstorm Sandy, it has since been used to respond to a range of natural disasters and large-scale emergencies, from hurricanes and floods to public health crises. This flexibility, along with the platform’s proven track record, is part of what convinced state officials to commit to another decade of partnership with CGI.
CGI itself is no stranger to large-scale public sector projects. Founded in 1976, the firm now employs 93,000 consultants and professionals around the globe, delivering everything from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration and managed services. In fiscal 2024, CGI reported revenue of CA$14.68 billion, with shares listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. The company’s local relationship model, combined with a global delivery network, has helped it win contracts with governments and businesses seeking to digitally transform their operations and accelerate results.
Looking ahead, both New Jersey officials and CGI executives are optimistic that the renewed SIROMS partnership will not only help the state weather future storms but also continue to raise the bar for disaster recovery across the country. As climate risks mount and public scrutiny intensifies, the need for transparent, efficient, and accountable systems has never been greater.
For New Jersey, the message is clear: by investing in proven technology and fostering collaboration, the state is positioning itself to protect its residents, safeguard public funds, and recover more quickly from whatever challenges lie ahead.
