Leveraging the Internet in a time of Disaster...

Thoran · 09-01-2005, 02:22 PM

It seems to me that during Disasters like Katrina, the internet COULD be a very powerful source for information and aid communication. Just looking around I've found several sites where people from all accross the country are offering to share their homes with victims of the Hurricane. We've listed our place, even though NY is quite a haul from LA, it would be better than living in a hotel or the Astrodome for three months.

The problem is getting the resource available to those in need. Most folks down there don't have access to a computer in their hotel rooms or shelters, there's probably a lot of people like me, people who'd MUCH rather spend money helping folks directly rather than give it to some aid agency to be soaked up in fat salaries and other overhead.

If I lived within a few hours of the area I'd be making dozens of copies of these web housing lists and dropping them off at all the hotels where refugee's are staying.

Make sense? Am I way off here?

[ 09-01-2005, 02:24 PM: Message edited by: Thoran ]

johnny · 09-01-2005, 02:35 PM

Good job, you're an example for everyone.

Vaskez · 09-01-2005, 02:45 PM

Hmm, this kind of problem will be a thing of the past, when cheap wireless ad hoc network devices finally get mass-produced. Then you can just drop them in a disaster area, to provide internet or whatever network coverage to the area.

Thoran · 09-01-2005, 03:05 PM

I imagine that many of the overloaded hotels accross the south have broadband access... the problem is that you need a laptop to access it.

I guess for the folks who can afford hotels it's not such a big issue, they could probably go to the local internet cafe (assuming they don't have laptops).

It will be interesting to see how it all works out, I'd be willing to bet that a large percentage of refugees could find housing in this manner if it was properly organized (which it won't be). I don't know if the big aid agencies just don't know about this potentially huge source of help or if they avoid it for liability or control reasons... but they don't even have links on their websites to these other sites. I browsed them all and they just ask for money, and more money, and money...

...and don't foget to send money.

09-01-2005, 02:35 PM	#2
johnny 40th Level Warrior Join Date: April 15, 2002 Location: Utrecht The Netherlands Age: 58 Posts: 16,981	Good job, you're an example for everyone. __________________

09-01-2005, 02:45 PM	#3
Vaskez Takhisis Follower Join Date: April 30, 2001 Location: szép Magyarország (well not right now) Posts: 5,089	Hmm, this kind of problem will be a thing of the past, when cheap wireless ad hoc network devices finally get mass-produced. Then you can just drop them in a disaster area, to provide internet or whatever network coverage to the area. __________________ Too set in his ways to ever relate If he could set that aside, there'd be heaven to pay But weathered and aged, time swept him to grave Love conquers all? Damn, I'd say that area's gray

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09-01-2005, 02:22 PM	#1
Thoran Galvatron Join Date: January 10, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Age: 56 Posts: 2,109	It seems to me that during Disasters like Katrina, the internet COULD be a very powerful source for information and aid communication. Just looking around I've found several sites where people from all accross the country are offering to share their homes with victims of the Hurricane. We've listed our place, even though NY is quite a haul from LA, it would be better than living in a hotel or the Astrodome for three months. The problem is getting the resource available to those in need. Most folks down there don't have access to a computer in their hotel rooms or shelters, there's probably a lot of people like me, people who'd MUCH rather spend money helping folks directly rather than give it to some aid agency to be soaked up in fat salaries and other overhead. If I lived within a few hours of the area I'd be making dozens of copies of these web housing lists and dropping them off at all the hotels where refugee's are staying. Make sense? Am I way off here? [ 09-01-2005, 02:24 PM: Message edited by: Thoran ]

09-01-2005, 03:05 PM	#4
Thoran Galvatron Join Date: January 10, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Age: 56 Posts: 2,109	I imagine that many of the overloaded hotels accross the south have broadband access... the problem is that you need a laptop to access it. I guess for the folks who can afford hotels it's not such a big issue, they could probably go to the local internet cafe (assuming they don't have laptops). It will be interesting to see how it all works out, I'd be willing to bet that a large percentage of refugees could find housing in this manner if it was properly organized (which it won't be). I don't know if the big aid agencies just don't know about this potentially huge source of help or if they avoid it for liability or control reasons... but they don't even have links on their websites to these other sites. I browsed them all and they just ask for money, and more money, and money... ...and don't foget to send money.

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