The Backup Layer, and the Job It PerformsWhen a person contacts 988 by chat or text, the message is routed to a local crisis center. If the volume is high enough that the local center cannot respond promptly, the message overflows to a national backup center. Grassroots was one of those partners, and its subaward for national backup services was not renewed, according to reporting by The Banner. What has not been publicly established is who will perform the national backup function after September 29, or whether the function will continue in the same form. What is the national backup center?