Hi Deborah,In answer to your question about a trained group of volunteers that can help post missing persons during a disaster, I think this is exactly what happened. As soon as the people were out of New Orleans and in other places they were immediately helped with all the volunteers to use technology to find their loves one. This was done while waiting for the government to decide what to do. The more major concern at this time is keeping track of the refugees, where they went, what they need, which is what the new database by VisionLink is providing. This on-line database has taken years to develop and covers every area of persons life and is flexible to accommodate the homeless and the disaster victims. RECA Foundation and 4People are beginning to use this for our Homeless in eastern Washington, and almost any techie could easily walk around and get the information needed for this case management system. The important thing about the database is that Red Cross, FEMA! , Salvation Army, United Way and others have all AGREED to use this one, so it goes beyond posting, but providing services to the victims. My more immediate concern would be to make sure that New Orleans has Wi-Fi and computer centers in non-profits, hospitals, schools, senior centers, DSHS, HUD buildings so that everyone can learn to use the Internet to help themselves. My other concern is that the RED Cross, FEMA and all involved with disaster preparedness need to update their Disaster Preparedness Kits to include communications equipment. How about a solar powered battery recharger, or a hand held recharger. We need to proceed with making most computers wireless and showing people how to use these. We need to get the legislature and city officials to make deals with the ISP's to provide wireless access for FREE during a disaster. This is a great example to show non-profits how much they truly need to use the Internet. We still have a number of holdouts in our community even thought we have been pushing them for over 13 years. Know that the Tech Community was there! Ronda EvansRECA Foundationtcfn.org - connecting people to technology4people.tcfn.org - connecting people to resourcescalendars.tcfn.org connecting people to activities Re: What can we do to prepare for a DISASTER?Dear Colleagues,I just want to mention a vision that a few of us in the KatrinaPeopleFinder Project group have been discussing.What if we got together with the national CityCares / Hands On Networkand the CommunityTechnology Center Network ? What if the HandsOn Network recruited volunteers (to be trained by the KatrinaPeopleFinder Project) who would be willing to go to local CTCs in theevent of an emergency, in order to process data about missing persons,or to help distraught loved ones who are searching for evacuees toenter queries into the PeopleFinder database?If we had a network of previously-trained national or internationalvolunteers - and sites to which they could report - in advance ofemergencies - then the folks who were in unaffected regions would havean immediate way to help those in need.What do you think?Best regards from DeborahDeborah Elizabeth FinnBoston, Massachusetts, [EMAIL PROTECTED]://blog.deborah.elizabeth.finn.com/bloghttp://public.xdi.org/=deborah.elizabeth.finn_______________________________________________DIGITALDIVIDE mailing [EMAIL PROTECTED]://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivideTo unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
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