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Our mission:

assisting humanitarian field teams

• Information and communications technologies (ICT)

• Practical assistance for relief and development

• Volunteer- intensive

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Our results

Since founding in 2002:

Have assisted

• 100 + organizations

• 250+ humanitarian teams

Communications assistance in

Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, Darfur, Niger, South Asia tsunami, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many other emergencies

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Our work

Help Desk for humanitarian teams

• Information service for field teams, primarily in communications

• Both disaster relief and aid missions (capacity building)

• Online resources: Satcom Center (Plone based)

Research• VoIP• Solar Power• Mobile computing• WiFi, WiMax networks• NGO user community• Other ICT resources

In addition:

• Loaner satellite phones for emergencies

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Observations and lessons from Katrina

1. Lack of preparedness• All levels of government• Lack of coordination• “Disasters start and end at the local level” a

2. Communications: massive failures• Loss of power• Poor interoperability• Essential for command and control and situational awareness

3. Situational awareness• Authorities and NGOs could not get actionable reports• Volunteer-based programs were enormously helpful

a. A Failure of Initiative – Final Report of the House Select Bipartisan Committee on Hurricane Katrina Preparation and Response

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An initiative for the Summer of 06

Geek Action National Guard (GANG)Providing an infrastructure and methodology for Engineering

involvement in the communication needs of humanitarian relief operations.

Three elements

1. Providing pre-certified “feet on the street” assistance for satellite and wireless communications.

2. Open-source software application development targeted to the humanitarian aid workers needs.

3. Administrative infrastructure to provide deployment assistance and training for deployed engineers.

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Deployed in the field engineering teams (GANG)

• Pre-certified and trained in Satellite and wireless communications• Database allows for customized invovlvement with opt in/out

• Time frames• Geography• Type of conflict (natural disaster versus complex (civil war)

emergencies• Administrative team coordinates communications with host gov or

state agencies, legal, financial support, insurance, evacuation planning etc

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Software Application Development …GIS initial application

• Open Source

•Focused on aid worker needs (not home office)

•Developed in conjunction with the aid worker community

•Heavy emphasis on security as well as social needs

GANG Software development group

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Gang Admin support services

•Coordinates with immigration and host government•Procures equipment•Oversees medical authotization•Legal, insurance•Evacuation planning and contracting•Arranges travel, accomadation and expense budgets•Coordinates with NGO partners

Katrina, 2005

“Communications and coordination were lacking, preplanning was lacking. We were not prepared for this.”

Federal Coordinating Officer in Louisiana, before U.S. Senate hearing

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Katrina, 2005: why the

Geek Action National Guard (GANG) is possiblePeople are ready and willing

• Tech skills are needed

A “triple win” for business, employees, and relief teams:

1. Business: cause-based marketing• And a skilled team ready for local emergencies

2. Employees: pride in being part of the relief effort• And a motivational factor: working for a company that cares

3. Relief teams benefit from capable, committed tech assistance• And lives can be saved!

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How the

Geek Action National Guard (GANG) will workTeam model

• Volunteers grouped by corporate sponsorship when possible• Pre-emergency training

• GANG team concept• Basic preparedness (Red Cross)• Communications (satphones, wireless, voip)

• Certification by training cadre• press releases• Periodic exercises and recurrency training• Recognition within company and through

Feb 20 2006, rev c

How the

Geek Action National Guard (GANG) will workIndividual model

• Volunteers assigned to teams• or in an augmentation pool

• Pre-emergency training • GANG team concept• Basic preparedness (Red Cross)• Communications (satphones, wireless, voip)

• Certification by training cadre• Periodic exercises and recurrency training

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Near-term target:a simulation

Sept – Oct 2006• One-day training event• Realistic scenario

• Fort Ord/ Moffett Field• Security situation

• Satcom + WiFi

+ network + solar• Demo by a GANG field team

• Rapid install• Field test of software

• Support team in the scenario• Invited observers from NGOs, State of California

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Current volunteeropportunities

Research • VoIP• Solar power• Mobile computing• WiFi, WiMax networks• NGO user community

Field partner support• First-level response to inquiries• “Native guide” to our online Satcom Center and other resources

General• Database management• Conference planning

Feb 20 2006, rev c

What you cando this month

GANG concept • Give us your

feedback

Consider it!• SEEKING CORPORATE FOUNDING SPONSORS!!!!