I have no particular opinion on the proposal below, nor does it have anything directly to do with us, but I was just thinking that for disasters that are easy to foresee, we might want to think about how we can be prepared in advance to bring people the information they need. Is there anything we can do in advance to prepare? We're so fast anyway, I have no ideas, but I thought I'd pass along the notion. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Being Prepared in the face of Hurricane Wilma as far as communications. Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 23:08:54 -0600 From: Taran Rampersad <cnd(a)knowprose.com> Reply-To: cnd(a)knowprose.com Organization: KnowProSE.com To: mobileactive(a)mobileactive.org, Jamais Cascio <cascio(a)worldchanging.com>om>, The Digital Divide Network discussion group <digitaldivide(a)milhouse.edc.org> While Wilma is headed somewhere to in the Gulf region, and has already caused deaths in Haiti, it might be a good idea to get the community involved before disaster strikes, and set up alternative means of communication at the community level - and let people know *before* disaster strikes. Projects such as the ARC (http://www.knowprose.com/ARC ; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4149977.stm ) can be set up NOW, and be ready before disaster strikes an area. Organized communication BEFORE a disaster, DURING a disaster, and AFTER a disaster. SMS and HAM radio always seem to be the main means of dependable communication. I wrote an entry (link below) to share. Please share widely, by email, weblog, print, television, radio, carrier pigeon and telling your gossipy acquaintances at the coffee shop and bar: http://www.knowprose.com/node/9106 Or, we can just wait and blame someone else for not doing anything. -- Taran Rampersad Presently in: San Fernando, Trinidad cnd(a)knowprose.com http://www.knowprose.com http://www.easylum.net http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran Coming on January 1st, 2006: http://www.OpenDepth.com "Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo