Disaster tech support for NGOs
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
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.