I don't believe anyone said NOT to roll out linux kiosks or any technology that can help out, but rather that attempting to fill out FEMA applications using a user agent workaround was probably not a good idea.
I'm the Systems Administrator for the Lafayette Public Library System, and I am running a 25 computer lab here at our main branch specifically for evacuees, and another 25 computer lab upstaris for evacuees and the general public, and have seen hundreds upon hundreds of people come in to use PCs in the last week or so. FEMA is the #1 requested thing that they want to accomplish on the pc. We have over 75 publically accessable computers parish wide, and all of them have been extremely busy. Most requests that we have had for usage of the computers has been for FEMA access. I have setup two of the kiosk CDs from publicwebstations.com in our Katrina Information Center (evacuee computer lab) on some P266Mhz machines (and plan to roll out about 8 more once i get more power strips and monitors), and most people avoid them when they find out that they can not print nor be used for FEMA applications. The ones who just want to see satellite pictures or check email (without printing) really like them though, and they are definatly filling a need. "FEMA registration, while important, is not critical. You can register by phone." I DARE you to tell this to someone who's house is either blown down or under water, because I can tell you that most that I have met do not share your opinion on the imporance of getting that pin number ASAP. Sure, you can attempt to call FEMA, but most can NOT get through on the phone, and the 50 computers greatly outweigh our 4 VoIP phone lines that we have available. http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=31450 "It has only been nine days since Kim registered for help, so the check could be on the way, but she just wants to check on the status of her registration. She says she either cannot get through on FEMA's toll-free line, or if she does get through (one successful call was at 5am), the operator is not able to help her. "They left us on hold for four hours and we just hung it up," Kim said." Now multiply this by hundreds with only 4 phonelines available. People want to get FEMA done NOW and as quickly as possible. Most do not want to deal with it later. They want that pin number in hand and want to know they are in the system. I got nothing against rolling out Linux terminals, heck, I've got some here for the evacuees. I'm just trying to fill the order of needs when it comes to internet access, and FEMA seems to be on the top of that list. Keep in mind Will, I'm not chomping at you, but just sharing some of the opinions I have on the subject. By all means, if it is possible to have Linux terminals out there, roll them out, but people shouldn't get surprised or discouraged if they constantly get asked if they can use them to fill out FEMA applications. Also, while a lot of people have been surprisingly computer savy, you do still have a large majority of people who are not computer literate. I spent an hour this morning helping a very nice man search for his home on the NOAA site that contains aerial images. We have had people who do not know that they have to click in a box to type when filling out information, and we had another guy who did not know how to scroll a web page up and down because the mouse we had on the computer did not have a "wheel" (we've rolled out almost every bit of spare equipment we have and this mouse was old and "wheelless" ;) ). It's a good mix out there. all FEMA junk aside... Keep up all of the good work fellas, every bit does help, and I know that the people that use the technology that we put out there really appreciate it! On 9/10/05, Will Hill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > My red cross buddy got away before I could ask him anything, but I've decided > the issue is nothing but FUD. Anyone planning to provide Linux kiosks should > do so without delay. People will be helped with or without working FEMA > registration. It's disgusting the site was designed that way but it's only > one site and I imagine it will be fixed if it's really broken. If it's not > really broken, shame on MSNBC. > > FEMA registration, while important, is not critical. You can register by > phone. > > Important information that can be provided by web kiosks includes the phone > number for registration and many other things. FEMA also provides detailed > instructions about who should file, types of benefits to be expected for > individuals and businesses and many other things you and I would not think > of. Nola, the Advocate and many other sites are providing news and > information that you won't find in print. > > It's much better to provide half a loaf than none. In this case, you will be > providing 99.9% of the solution. > > On Friday 09 September 2005 07:07 am, Adam Melancon wrote: > > I just dont' know how you can test this. > > _______________________________________________ > General mailing list > [email protected] > http://brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net > -- Adam Melancon
