Disaster tech support for NGOs

Scenario Assumptions:

• Community-wide disaster (Earthquake, subsequent tsunami)- but not total devastation
• 5-10% of nonprofit org buildings collapse.
• Assume government resources are focused on gov't facilities
• Assume for-profit IT services are serving for profit businesses
• Computer/technology/platform are down at 300-600 non profit orgs

How can nonprofit sector (people) self-organize in an ad hoc way?

• Looking at day AFTER crisis through several weeks of recovery
• Not focused on preparation, focused on recovery.
• Mobilizing those inclined and qualified to help.

_Needs for Success_

* Means for gathering/listing orgs that need assistance (text based?/low bandwidth)
* Means for finding/alerting/vetting(?) volunteer corps to assist nonprofits that are down 
* Triage process that works for volunteer lay-people, non-technical to
  evaluate urgency cases.

_Event Workflow:_

* OUTBOUND: who needs help
* OUTBOUND: who can help
* incoming requests for aid (provide location and best guess of need)
* incoming offers to help (provide location and skills to offer)
* go through triage matching process (below)

_Triage Questions: Prioritization of Need_

(Automate triage questions if possible, Twillio, etc, have option to talk to people)

* Where are is the down technology/computer network?
* Will lives be threatened if technology is not restored?
* Power out? Internet out?
* Damaged equipment? Type, how many, etc.
* Building damaged/flooded/no access? Do you need to relocate?
* Do you have other resources that can help you?
* Are you the person normally in charge of this?
    o Is there an IT person?
    o Are they okay, can help?
    o Can you get in touch with them to assess your needs?

_ !!! IDEAS !!! _

* Build on existing ... 
* Coopt / adapt an existing platform that is up (assume electricity up, in general)
  - Use a facebook page - rework 'I’m Safe feature'
  - Make a google map with pins showing need
  - Post needs on CraigsList in special category
  - Other?: How would/could twitter, snap, instragram fit in. 
* Tech industry could set up platform something in advance (e.g., Zendesk, Salesforce)
* Tech industry could set up employee 'community service' program in advance to allow employees to go out in their neighborhoods and help closest school, church, clinic

__ CHALLENGES __

* There are issues of liability, HIPAA data, etc.
* NEED A ticket systems for assigning people are needed in order to avoid
  duplication of efforts, appropriately escalate, indicate resolution.

Needs for Success

• Must work in low-bandwidth.
• Must have non-internet or computer based resources (ex: laminated guides, etc).
• Triage process that works for volunteer lay-people, non-technical to evaluate most urgent cases.

Event Workflow:

• OUTBOUND: who needs help
• OUTBOUND: who can help
• incoming requests for aid
• incoming offers to help
• go through triage (below)

Triage Questions: Prioritization of Need

(Automate triage questions if possible, Twillio, etc, have option to talk to people)

• Will lives be threatened if technology is not restored?
• Power out? Internet out?
• Damaged equipment? Type, how many, etc.
• Building damaged/flooded/no access? Do you need to relocate?
• Do you have other resources that can help you?
• Are you the person normally in charge of this?
  • Is there an IT person?
  • Are they okay, can help?
  • Can you get in touch with them to assess your needs?

Considerations

• This could be routed through tech industry orgs, building out their own versions of a disaster response program set up in advance of a crisis, and deploy technical employees to respond.
• There are issues of liability, HIPAA data, etc.
• Ticket systems for assigning people are needed in order to avoid duplication of efforts, appropriately escalate, indicate resolution.
• Leverage existing frameworks and tools to achieve goals: A reworking of Facebook’s “I’m Safe feature, Google’s disaster/crisis maps, etc).