Daily Kos

Computer People: Let's Solve a Problem for Katrina Victims

by DHinMI

Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:59:31 PM PDT

(From the diaries -- Plutonium Page.)

Over at The Next Hurrah I posted a piece asking people to brainstorm problems caused by Katrina that aren't being talked about yet in the media and possibly not even anticipated by the Bush administration.  In the discussion, mimikatz had a great idea: a database for volunteers to enter names, current location and other information of survivors so people can find their loved ones.

Take a look at the comment thread, and PLEASE, let's try to brainstorm some ideas here to see if this is something that we could make happen.  

Update [2005-9-2 15:23:57 by DHinMI]:

I probably wasn't clear enough, but let's use this diary thread to talk specifically about the people search/database idea. If you have other brainstorming ideas, we'd love to hear them over at TNH, but here let's focus on the people search.

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Permalink | 189 comments

  •  Never Asked Before, But Please Recommend... (4.00 / 7)

    ...so that this diary doesn't fly by in 20 minutes.  Let's get some serious discussion and problem solving going here, and that needs some time for people to see this and interact.

    The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

    by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 11:55:25 AM PDT

    •  recommended heartily (none / 0)

      Great idea.  

      JOHN McCAIN = George W. Bush's 3rd term.

      by chumley on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:05:20 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Couple of things (none / 0)

      So this would be a database of the displaced persons... Given the lack of infrastructure in some of the affected areas, it seems like paper forms might be necessary.  

      If someone wanted to register a domain name (www.imalive.com or some such thing), I could put together a data entry and lookup form in a couple of hours.

      "Don't falme me pleas."

      by socratic on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:06:57 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Notify onsite media of the DB (none / 0)

      Survivors and relatives-of are giving names to reporters on the scene, in the desperate hope of getting a name mentioned on the air or in a wire story. It's a longshot, but people have to go for it.

      Given that this type of information is often edited out of a story, give media sources a heads-up on this resource so that even if it doesn't make the cut the information doesn't just shrivel in the ether.

      by Peanut on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:23:44 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Air America set up a voice line (none / 1)

      http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/2/173510/6210#5

      We've set up a toll free number that's basically the same concept as the "find a survivor" forum like they have on nola.com and katrinafinder.us, just on the phone.  People can dial in, press 1 and enter their phone number - from there they create a password and then can leave a voice message telling friends and family that they're ok.

      People outside the storm area can call in and search for messages by entering the phone numbers of people who are missing - as many as they want.

      This seems a valuable service because so many phone victims have no access to the internet or reliable phone lines and I'm hoping you can help us get the word out.  The number is 866-217-6255 and you can find more info at http://www.airamericaradio.com/katrina/voicemailinfo.html

      by Mordecai on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:50:18 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  CivicSpace is on the case with... (none / 1)

       a missing person's tracker. Kieran Lal just sent out this call for help :


      http://neworleansnetwork.org

      Hello, yesterday afternoon we were contacted to help with the New Orleans Relief effort.  We worked with Radical Designs who were managing the project and requested help from you.  We got two volunteers from the CS community.  We learned that they needed an organizing platform to help with finding missing persons.  We agreed that CiviCRM which is already integrated with CivicSpace was the platform to use for creating a missing persons site.   The CiviCRM stayed up late and modified CiviCRM to meet the needs.

      It's up and running now.  This wouldn't have been possible with out a dedicated community that has spent months building this platform and creating an open collaborative community.  Take a moment to pat yourselves on the back.

      Here is the current situation according to David Geilhufe:
      "Missing persons data is scattered all over the web, much of it in an unstructured format. Rather than have refugees search across hundreds of message boards to find someone, we want to try to populate peoplefinder with as many missing and found people as possible as soon as possible.  This would be a good old fashioned community organizing effort on the web... people can go to the various message boards and other listings and start entering that information into the people finder.  I figure a couple thousand people, a couple of hours each and enter more than enough information to make the people finder highly useful.

      But we need more help:
      (1) Internet organizers that can help plan for how we are going to notify and coordinate once the technology is live.

      (2) Technology folks that can write programs that will collect structured data on the web (CNN, tabular data, etc) so we can dump it into our database."

      Please help out, if you are able.

      Kieran

      I will be working as an internet organizer. Please help and donate your time for this because it will be needed in the coming weeks.

      Blogging the revolution @culturekitchen.com & The Daily Gotham

      by liza on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 03:05:07 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  As for those on the ground taking names (none / 0)

      I would suggest an MS Access database with a preformatted form for entering data. Tables will be stored locally, but at certain intervals can be exported to a CSV file [comma separated values], which can be easily attached to email and that is recognizeable and importable by almost all major database formats.

      As crazy as this situation is, I do not want to step on any toes. If there is a need for my services [web programmer, emphasis on database driven applications] I am more than available.

      Please pass along if you think it will help. If more detail is needed, contact at [admin..at..460design.net].

      Goverment isn't ruling, its managing diversity. - ppGaz, balloon-juice.com

      by Clever on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 03:30:59 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Welcome to... One Global Community .com (none / 0)

      Welcome to... One Global Community .com

       THIS CAN BE A Great WAY TO CONNECT All of Us

      Ck It Out...
      .

      A Project for USA and Earth Citizens Ever-Where

      Click here... http://www.OneGlobalCommunity.com

      ___

      Jump In... Anytime... Help Create...

      A Global Network of People & Community Centers

      In Every Neighborhood, Village, Town, Tribe & City

      All Connected Together With ( Web Sites ) ( & Blogs )

      Created, Built & Maintained By and 4 All of Us

      Every-Where - All Around - Our - Planet Earth

      ____

      Continue reading at www.OneGlobalCommunity.com

      by RogerARTcom on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 03:44:45 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  wrist bands (none / 0)

      I'm not a computer geek at all, but it seems to me elementary that the technology for tracing people via a database already exists, e.g., the barcoded wristbands that hospitals and others use.  What's so hard?

      by drector on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:58:17 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I'm not a Tech Person... (none / 1)

    ...but one obvious issue is server space.  I suspect the New Orleans Times-Picayune has made some deal to boost their server capacity.  They're also running their community forums, which are providing some information and exchange for people.  But what this could do is provide a central clearing house of information on people.  Maybe if there was somebody to deal with the set up and folks could work out some protocols, maybe the Times-Picayune could help in getting some server capacity.

    The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

    by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 11:59:05 AM PDT

    •  I use ServerBeach in San Antonio, Texas (none / 0)

      I'm certain they would put up a server free of charge no problem. www.serverbeach.com - give them a call.

      Give us back the America we trust and respect!!!

      by icerat on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:05:00 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  i'd add .... (none / 0)

        ... that i'd try to organise it, but i'm an australian living in sweden :-/

        Give us back the America we trust and respect!!!

        by icerat on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:07:10 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  I have emailed them (none / 0)

          and posted on their forums, where they had already asked if there was anything they could do to help. If anyone on this thread is truly coordinating this, then I think you'll get a server no problems. In the meantime one of mine is available, email davids at asgard dot net

          Give us back the America we trust and respect!!!

          by icerat on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:23:36 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

  •  Your title (4.00 / 2)

    seems to indicate that you want computer people to respond, but the text of the Last Hurrah message seems to indicate your request has broader implications.

    Here's my shot (I hope it's within your boundaries).  I think an agency to rebuild the Gulf Region needs to be established and should be staffed at all levels by the victims of Katrina and located in the region.  The agency would have three purposes: to rebuild the region, provide jobs for those who have none, and to develop a rapid response to future catastrophes in teh region, along with regularly published recommendations and warnings (including rating preparedness on state, local, and federal level).

    It would almost be a New Deal sort of endeavor.  I think it's sorely needed.

    NetrootNews coming soon!

    by ksh01 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:07:21 PM PDT

  •  there are already some resources (none / 0)

    to find people, like craigslist.

    what could we make that handles a need that hasn't been addressed?

    Where would we be right now without the internet?

    by johnny71 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:14:26 PM PDT

    •  There Needs to Be a Process... (none / 0)

      ...and a central location for getting the info of all the people sitting in sheleters all over the south.  Obviously you have tons of people in the Astrodome, but there are also people all over the place in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Jackson, Birmingham, and God knows where else.  People don't have phones, they don't have computers, etc.  But if there was some central portal--and maybe it's Craigs list, I don't know--but if there was a central portal, and a process for giving people access to enter information, people could take laptops to every shelter and get everyone who's concerned that people don't know where they are signed up.  Conversely, those people all over who are looking for people would be able to look on that central portal to search for people.

      The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

      by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:18:16 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Exactly (none / 0)

        craigslist is great for an ad hoc system, but a purpose-built peoplefinder could be useful, if it could reach the people who need it.

        "Don't falme me pleas."

        by socratic on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:20:00 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  i know there are some kossacks (none / 0)

        down there, and somewhere i read about one of us who has been there.

        then what about this: have volunteers go to various refugee locations with (at the very least) digital cameras and forms for people to fill out.  take a picture of someone, maybe holding up some sort of number or their name.  bring it home, upload it into the database.

        i think it probably ought to go in that direction... like here, i'm still alive.  then people can search for loved ones by last name.  it would also cut out issues of spammers getting email addresses because refugees aren't going to have them.  or phone numbers.

        so what do we track?

        • first name
        • last name
        • previous zip code
        • current location
        • photo
        • message from the refugee

        what else?

        Where would we be right now without the internet?

        by johnny71 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:28:50 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Wouldn't the Photos... (none / 0)

          ...take up a ton of bandwidth/server capacity?

          The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

          by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:46:48 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  why call them refugees? (none / 0)

          these people are tax paying American citizens  who are being relocated to other areas within the USA, not being sent to some other by  foreign country. I would rather see them referred to as a Hurricane Katrina survivor, then called a refugee.

          "Spying on the populace is a giant step toward totalitarianism." -- Bob Herbert

          by hws on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:19:35 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Previous address (none / 0)

          (may be multiple people in same zip with same name)

          Plus:

          • Previous phone number
          • Date of current location--and the ability to update locations, also date-stamped
          • Current contact information--may need to hold multi-line address, phone number, e-mail (provided as part of system, ideally, or hotmail/gmail account)
          • Space for comment/message

          by Smallbottle on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:26:56 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Info needed (none / 0)

          John Smith  5/11/54    Walnut Street New Orleans,

          as of 9/02/05 at Gaylord Hospital, Houston TX
          505-412-3344

          Plus maybe email address, extended comments etc.

          You definitely need a DOB to distinguish people with same names.

          Usually a candidate only has to run against one Party. Ned Lamont had to fight the entire CT Rep Party, and 1/3 of the CT Dem Party. No wonder he lost.

          by DeanFan84 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:44:28 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Tell Your Story Feature -- Useful? (none / 0)

          We're using a "tell your story" feature at StemPAC that has been great for that effort.  People can upload stories, and other people can read them.  It's searchable by city and state.

          We probably could tweak it on this end to make it searchable by Parish, or some other relevant criteria, and thus make it geared toward finding survivors.  I don't know if it's the right fit for this, but if people like it, I'm sure I could get my colleagues (at Grassroots Enterprise) to do a version pro bono.

          Here's the site, as it appears on StemPAC:

          http://www.stempac.com/stories/

          And here's where people share their stories:

          http://www.stempac.com/shareyourstory/

          My guess is this might be less useful as a "survivor match up" and more useful as a way for people to tell their stories, and help generate donations...

          BareNaked Pundits!

          by Hlinko on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:47:44 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      •  Could it be based on the friendster (none / 0)

        type system?

        Put up a profile and connect with others who have profiles and know one another who have found people you are looking for and so on and so on?

        Not only that...but have a search engine capacity built in.

        I do have a friend who works for Google.

        by beagleandtabby on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:12:14 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Consolidation (none / 0)

        I see databases starting to sprout up on several sites...I think the focus needs to be on consolidating this information not just starting a another database.

        onnyturf.com - Political and Community Coverage of NYC

        by atomicBirdsong on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:17:39 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Agreed, ONE CONSOLIDATED LIST (none / 0)

          Anything else is insane.

          Where is the effing government on this?

          God help us if a nuke ever goes off.

          Usually a candidate only has to run against one Party. Ned Lamont had to fight the entire CT Rep Party, and 1/3 of the CT Dem Party. No wonder he lost.

          by DeanFan84 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:46:13 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      •  DHinMI (none / 0)

        as I already posted along here I did a diary just for this topic of databasing people:
        http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/2/171626/7875

        BUT I think you should sieze the moment right now and front page this topic (not necessarily my diary) and get one person or a few people in charge of this idea - this needs order bad before people get too ahead of themselves!

        onnyturf.com - Political and Community Coverage of NYC

        by atomicBirdsong on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:22:48 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Honestly.. (none / 0)

        I don't doubt that Craigslist and other sites already in place have handled the bulk of the people-finding by now.  Agree that it's a bit late there.  As far as laptops & taking down people's info, I think again this is probably replicating a function already to be handled by agencies on the ground.

        You know what would probably help out people.. How cheap are prepaid cell phones or the types with calling cards?   What if you get a bunch at a discount.. Or wait, maybe get the companies to DONATE an absolute ton of them, actually?   At least let's try getting phone cards for regular pay type phones.  Can we get companies to donate those?  

        on strike.

        by daria g on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:15:37 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Plus.. (none / 0)

          Internet kiosks/searchable databases - you assume most people are computer savvy enough to use them - most people aren't or will take a long time.  I don't think a lot of stranded people who've had to suffer the indignity of being shuttled around here and there and sleeping on a stadium floor are going to be all that thrilled about giving a bunch of personal info to people with laptop databases.

          I think, short term, give people phones or phone cards, set up call centers, set up places for people who already have cell phones to charge them.  Simple.  

          on strike.

          by daria g on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:21:11 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  Already too many cooks in this stew. (none / 0)

      WWL has one... http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=16&sid=28245b14c7727df3df4bd2e188d4f473

      Then, there's the National Next of Kin registry... http://host182.ipowerweb.com/~pleaseno/disaster/reg.htm

      The Times-Picayune has one, too... http://www.nola.com/forums/searching/

      And Craig's List is noted above.

      Hurricane victims who have been evacuated are probably queueing 300-deep to use the two computers with Internet access at each shelter.  When they finally get a chance to log on, they won't have time to post their information on more than one of these.   If I were a family member looking for my missing relative, I hope I would know about all of them (there are probably some I don't know about, either, since I'm not intimately concerned with this!)

      Rather than increasing the number of registries, they need to be centralized.  Of course, with the chaos that's attended this disaster, this is probably pretty low on the priority list.  Perhaps it should be higher.

      "There is nothing false about hope." -- Barack Obama

      by DC Pol Sci on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:36:56 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  First Step Is Determining Which to Use (none / 0)

        There's discussion pointing toward Katrina Relief, and we're trying to get it's creator into this discussion.

        That's the one with the most entries so far.  Once we decide on a database, then it's about getting the info into it.

        The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

        by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:39:19 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  But the problem will continue (none / 0)

          I sense though that the real problem is going to be having one master list.  Even if a Kossack team decides there is one best list, that doesn't mean the rest of the country will agree with that choice.

          onnyturf.com - Political and Community Coverage of NYC

          by atomicBirdsong on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:42:38 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  If Volunteers Go Into... (none / 0)

            ...10 Red Cross centers and get 1,000 names at each place, they'll have far more names on that one site than any other.

            The logjam is getting the names into the database.  

            The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

            by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:48:08 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  The other problem... (none / 0)

              ...is making sure the VICTIMS and their FAMILIES know to go to the master list as opposed to any of the littler lists.  How to overcome this given the massive communications disruptions and the difficulty of getting even basic information out of the myriad shelters is the primary challenge.

              As with most things, it's the human engineering that's going to make or break this.

              "There is nothing false about hope." -- Barack Obama

              by DC Pol Sci on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 03:51:23 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

        •  All I know is (none / 0)

          Salesforce.com is on it.  Someone in local government called the CEO, the CEO mobilized a guy named Dean, and Dean called up all his people including my roommate and took them from SF to New Orleans.

          Salesforce does custom internet-based databases for medium sized corporate clients.  I think they're gonna be tracking not just people but also all the rescuers and equipment.

          On the other hand, a really simple, missing-persons-only system that's very public could be up and running before the big database is.

          Anyone who's seriously working on this, or who's already got information to share, should consider getting in touch with salesforce at some point.

          I assume they're doing this pro bono.

          by texas dem on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 05:36:03 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      •  And I see CNN has gotten into the picture, too... (none / 0)

        ...linked below.

        "There is nothing false about hope." -- Barack Obama

        by DC Pol Sci on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:42:55 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Dear God... (none / 1)

          ...with all of the databases, it will be a small miracle if anybody manages to find the one database that their loved one has registered at.  What's needed is ONE MASTER DATABASE that will amalgamate ALL of the OTHER databases.  Of course, if five people attempt to do this, too, and each one of them misses two or three of the databases...

          This is why this is an activity that needs to be coordinated and can only really be coordinated well by the Federal Government.  Of course, they're all running around trying to look busy...

          "There is nothing false about hope." -- Barack Obama

          by DC Pol Sci on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:46:07 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  400 names (none / 0)

          More PR than functionality.

          The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

          by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:46:22 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  Too hard to search n/t (none / 0)

      Healthcare for ALL! NOW! & OneCare at MySpace

      by SarahLee on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 03:29:46 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Accessing bank account (none / 0)

    How would we find out if bank records are also stored elsewhere?   My daughter needs access to her bank account and so far hasn't been able to reach it.

    Her bank is likely not seriously flooded, unless everything is stored in the basement.

    POW qualifies to run a war or a country like being locked in a basement qualifies to design and build basements for high rises. me

    by maybeeso in michigan on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:15:13 PM PDT

    •  Which bank? (none / 0)

      My son works for Hibernia -- which has relocated to Shreveport, using a mainframe somewhere in Texas. They're still scrambling to restore a lot of functionality (and he has to get back there pronto to help them do it), but he was able to access his account.

      His girlfriend has her account with Whitney, and so far she hasn't been able to access her account.

      I can tell you this much... every bank affected has their technical staff working 16-hour shifts right now... Those of their techs, that is, who aren't scattered across the country or worse, struggling for food and water in NO.

      Folly is fractal: the closer you look at it, the more of it there is.

      by Canadian Reader on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 03:35:49 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Great idea (none / 0)

    Worried though on how to keep spammers ect from getting the email addresses and other contact info.

    Republicans : Socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor

    by ctsteve on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:16:35 PM PDT

  •  MSNBC has... (none / 0)

    ...two links on its homepage for people looking for others and people reporting there location.

    Support the Netroots Candidates! A VETO-PROOF majority in 2008!!!

    by InquisitiveRaven on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:18:02 PM PDT

    •  The Problem With All of Those... (none / 0)

      ...is the reporting end.  What needs to happen is that people sitting in shelters and centers processing the refugees need to be there with laptops entering people's data (if they consent).  Right now, I'm guessing it's mostly people looking for someone, but there seems to be little or now process for people to report where they are.  

      The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

      by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:27:26 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Yep, Agree... (none / 0)

        ..OT, my husband and I are considering buying a laptop as part of our emergency kit.  Plug it into a currant bush?  ;)

        Support the Netroots Candidates! A VETO-PROOF majority in 2008!!!

        by InquisitiveRaven on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:35:09 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  What's needed I believe (none / 0)

        is a fully searchable database, so that people can find whether there's any info about relative immediately. That way a single person who's linked could help large crowds. Also, the db would have to be easily updateable because people are moving around, in and out of contact.

        Great idea, greatly recommended.

        "Our programs are as lawful as they are valuable." -Michael Hayden

        by smintheus on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:39:10 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  In the Good Ole Days (none / 0)

        Didn't people actually used to do this function by PSA?

        The reason that I ask is, let's face it - there are precious few folks sitting in these shelters who are likely to be bloggers, or even highly sophisticated computer users.  Many are elderly or the poorest of the poor.  Giving them laptops works only if there are folks in the shelters who are both able to and willing to become essentially data processors for tens of thousands of people.

        On the other hand, radio in which the names of people looking for other people are broadcast, and delivery of as many portable radios to the victims as possible, would have some meaning for two reasons:  (a) in communities like those in the south, someone usually knows someone - i.e. once a name gets out on the air if it's overheard it will spread on its own and (b) part of what is causing folks to rapidly fall apart psychologically is the absence of any news at all.  A lifeline to something other than the hell they are going through.

        I don't know - just a thought.  Of course, anything helps.

        Visit Political Sapphire and Maat's Feather

        by shanikka on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:41:13 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Not for the Refugees to Manipulate the Computers (none / 1)

          Send in some teams of two people per laptop, and have them talk to the people and enter the data they collect on the spot.

          Don't take the people to the computers, take the computers and the keypunchers to the people.

          The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

          by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:45:46 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

  •  No email, no phones. (none / 1)

    After Katrina, none of my sister's friends could contact anyone with a New Orleans phone number - not even those mobile phones with New Orleans area codes.  And students couldn't contact anyone through their school email address, because their systems were powered down or underwater, or both.  

    There should be a website that, say, allows a user to post a message to an email address or a phone number, if those email addresses or phone numbers are down.  Then, the owner of the email address or phone number can go to the site, type in their email address or phone number, and recieve the messages that have been posted to it.

    The message wouldn't be private - type in a neighbors' number or email, and you could read the message - but it would be a good way to communicate emergency information, like where a person can currently be reached, now that the old number of email is dead.

    Support Regina Thomas, GA-12

    by Drew on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:18:29 PM PDT

  •  CNN (4.00 / 3)

    http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/hurricanes/list/

    CNN's survivor database.  Send email to

    hurricanevictims@cnn.com

    To add to it.

    Support Regina Thomas, GA-12

    by Drew on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 12:24:42 PM PDT

    •  CNN doing a great job (none / 0)

      great idea

      Republicans : Socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor

      by ctsteve on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:04:18 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  They Have 400 Names on their Site (none / 0)

        I just checked it a few minutes ago.

        There are 25,000 people at the Astrodome.

        This needs to be proactive, and not something that people just log in to.  It shouldn't depend on a live connection to the internet; it should be something that someone can walk around and collect the data on a laptop and then upload it into the database.

        The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

        by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:11:00 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Thanks for making the need clearer (none / 0)

          Republicans : Socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor

          by ctsteve on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:15:05 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  There are only 12,000 people (none / 0)

          at the Dome, the rest of them are in 17 other shelters around the city or sitting around outside....

          To write in plain vigorous language one has to think fearlessly, and if one thinks fearlessly one cannot be politically orthodox. George Orwell, 1946

          by deepintheheartoftx on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:20:30 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Someone call CNN, I am sure they would (none / 0)

          agree to cooperate with the blogosphere on this!

          Usually a candidate only has to run against one Party. Ned Lamont had to fight the entire CT Rep Party, and 1/3 of the CT Dem Party. No wonder he lost.

          by DeanFan84 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:48:32 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  I just sent this e-mail to CNN (none / 0)

            Hi!

            A group of us over at www.dailykos.com want to proactively help you build and promote your Survivor's list.

            What we'd like to see is one huge list on a database that volunteers could update regularly, on their own.

            For example right now their are 11,000 people in the Astrodome. Many of these people are out of touch with their loved ones, and it would be good to use CNN's audience to help let everyone know who is where. Who is safe, and how has passed away.

            DailyKos is the largest leftwing blog in America. There are hundreds of us who would help volunteer, and we have many technical people.

            Please get back in touch.

            Usually a candidate only has to run against one Party. Ned Lamont had to fight the entire CT Rep Party, and 1/3 of the CT Dem Party. No wonder he lost.

            by DeanFan84 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:57:59 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

    •  THIS LINK NEEDS FRONT PAGING! n/t (none / 0)

      onnyturf.com - Political and Community Coverage of NYC

      by atomicBirdsong on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:09:02 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Oh Well, We Tried (none / 0)

    I guess most people are more interested in expressing their otrage than being part of a solution.  

    Thanks to those who contributed and recommended.

    The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

    by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:06:39 PM PDT

    •  Try again? (none / 0)

      This list is a perfect place for brainstorming solutions.  This should be tried again, and since it is your idea....Maybe in a day or so.

      by Coriander on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:14:13 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Nice idea, but ultimately useless (none / 0)

      Two days ago, somebody suggested setting up a forum on a website to facilitate peope to reconnect with missing (like the forum at wwltv.com) and was looking for tech help.

      I suggested setting up a Google Groups mailinglist as an immediate remedy and did create it. Best thing is that it is fully searchable through the known Google interface.

      The website is katrinatouchbase.com the mailinglist is here.

      I posted a pointer to the mailinglist at the wwltv.com forum; the website wasn't up until later yesterday.

      The mailinglist already had a couple of posts. I then searched and found that there were about 5 other such mailinglists already with a couple of more postings in in, but not much.

      The new forum website is still almost deserted.

      Conclusion:
      All this is BULLSHIT.

      Without a well-known, central institution people KNOW to turn to like the Red-Cross (which runs their own database) all this actionism leads to NOTHING.

      The next best thing is really craigslist (or the wwltv forum), since it has been around for some time.

      our own correspondent is sorry to tell of an uneasy time that all is not well…

      by Felix Deutsch on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:48:29 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  internet access (none / 0)

    ..when the chaos dies down, someone should get a service provider to set up internet connections at the shelters then set up some wireless routers and donated laptops (I can come up with dozens myself from an old african american university where i worked as their network admin)...this would give survivors access to news and give people something to do with their time...

    Jesus: "Destroy this Temple" - Gospel of John

    by The Gnostic on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 01:15:58 PM PDT

    •  Phones, computers coming to Astrodome (none / 0)

      here

      Technology For All, a Houston nonprofit, was coordinating with authorities to set up a center in the Astrodome with 40 desktop computers loaded with Internet connections and office productivity software.

      "We're just working on this one little piece," said William Reed, the organization's chief executive. "We recognize that these folks need a connection to the outside world."

      SBC Communications Inc. said it planned to establish a communications center at the Astrodome with about 1,000 telephone lines and free high-speed Internet service. A similar setup was also in the works at a shelter in San Antonio, Texas, where the company is based.

      Verizon Wireless, meanwhile, offered to recharge cell phones for free at its stores and many emergency shelters, while Cingular Wireless invited displaced residents to make free calls from its company-owned stores in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

      SBC spokesman Larry Meyer acknowledged food, showers and other basic needs would come first, but said "we've got to begin to address other needs as well."

      Fired up in Tampa Bay!

      by Nonie3234 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:15:00 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  findkatrina.com (none / 0)

    Someone already has something up at FindKatrina.com.

    by false cognate on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:03:03 PM PDT

  •  compare to (none / 0)

    social security index
    census records
    ellis island lists

    it's not a technical problem in terms of creating the database... the challenge is getting the data to populate the database

    the geneology folks do this kind of thing all the time... consult with them

    by pitbullEmily on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:05:33 PM PDT

  •  I am not sure that this is on topic (none / 0)

    but I really feel that this list should be front paged, so here goes.  Earlier, I posted a diary in a similar vein, looking for solutions, ways to help...  I got a great response and want to share it here:

    Someone in my Yahoo group sent this out. Many of these are for survivors to find each other; others have ways to help. Wish we could get these front-paged.

    Bringing it all together http://survivedkatrina.net
    Wal-Mart Emergency Contact Service https:/ecs.wal-mart.com/CrisisComm
    Coast Guard: Submit a report of Missing/Stranded Person http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/home.do
    Gulf Coast News Survivor Connector Database http://www.gulfcoastnews.com
    National Next of Kin Registry http://www.nokr.org
    Web Sites Helping Locate Families http://www.mirawebdesign.com/katrina.html
    ORGANIZED LIST of missing and FOUND relatives http://survivedkatrina.proboards54.com/index.cgi
    Missing Persons, Aid, Volunteers, Temp Housing - nola craigslist http://neworleans.craigslist.org/about/help/katrina_cl.html
    Katrina Help Wiki http://katrinahelp.info/
    Hurricane Refugee Connect Site - Organized by Last Name http://www.hurricanerefugee.com
    Noah's Wish - Rescuing and Sheltering Animals in Disasters http://www.noahswish.org
    Provide foster home for animals http://www.uan.org/ears
    New Orleans Hurricane Relief Fund - Donate to Save New Orleans http://www.nolahurricanefund.org/
    New Orleans Network http://neworleansnetwork.org/

     

    Find a local farmers market near you. http://www.localharvest.org/

    by bittergirl on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:09:40 PM PDT

  •  here's a list of databases (none / 0)

    Maybe we could put together a thorough list of databases in one spot, including these and the ones posted above.

    Bringing it all together http://survivedkatrina.net
    Wal-Mart Emergency Contact Service https://ecs.wal-mart.com/CrisisComm
    Coast Guard: Submit a report of Missing/Stranded Person http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/home.do
    Gulf Coast News Survivor Connector Database http://www.gulfcoastnews.com
    National Next of Kin Registry http://www.nokr.org
    Web Sites Helping Locate Families http://www.mirawebdesign.com/katrina.html
    ORGANIZED LIST of missing and FOUND relatives http://survivedkatrina.proboards54.com/index.cgi
    Missing Persons, Aid, Volunteers, Temp Housing - nola craigslist http://neworleans.craigslist.org/about/help/katrina_cl.html
    Katrina Help Wiki http://katrinahelp.info/
    Hurricane Refugee Connect Site - Organized by Last Name http://www.hurricanerefugee.com
    New Orleans Network http://neworleansnetwork.org/

    by chantedor on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:09:54 PM PDT

  •  Something like this already exists... (none / 0)

    Here: http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=16&sid=28245b14c7727df3df4bd2e188d4f473

    And here: http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=15

    Here: http://www.nola.com/forums/searching/index.ssf?initial=true

    and here: http://www.nola.com/forums/imok/index.ssf?initial=true

    Volunteers: http://www.nola.com/forums/imok/index.ssf?initial=true

    Fired up in Tampa Bay!

    by Nonie3234 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:10:47 PM PDT

  •  There is at least one site for this..... (none / 1)

    This has been done.  See http://refugeesunited.org/

    by bubbaokie on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:11:03 PM PDT

    •  Right... (none / 0)

      The issue is getting the survivors to the site.  This, after thinking about it, is a hardware and planning issue, to get people with laptops/tablets/handhelds and network access (or not) into areas where the evacuees are.

      "Don't falme me pleas."

      by socratic on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:34:14 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  This has been a miserable failure (none / 0)

    In the discussion, mimikatz had a great idea: a database for volunteers to enter names, current location and other information of survivors so people can find their loved ones.

    As I watch Rice lie her ass off...again...I must say you would think the federal government would already have a national system in place for both displaced and volunteer entries.

    -Hope never cost Corporate America a dime -Somebody blow Bush so we can impeach him already.

    by DWCG on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:11:20 PM PDT

  •  Where is everyone? (none / 0)

    Certainly there are people in the Astrodome.  Where else?

    Before anything gets built, how will it work on the ground? Can we get people who have laptops and some wireless access in the areas where refugees are?

    Where would we be right now without the internet?

    by johnny71 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:12:14 PM PDT

    •  Might Not Need the Wireless (none / 0)

      Ideally, it would be something where people could upload data that they collected "out in the field," either by entering paper-based data, or something they keyed in on site and uploaded when they got somewhere with internet access.  That way they could do it right in the gyms, outdoors, wherever.

      The revolution will not be televised, but we'll analyze it to death at The Next Hurrah.

      by DHinMI on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:15:23 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Wireless would be more ideal though (none / 0)

        Adding the extra step in data entry would only slow the process down, and introduce another juncture for bad data.

        Where would we be right now without the internet?

        by johnny71 on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:18:41 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Bingo (none / 0)

        The second part of your idea is what needs to happen.  

        A small client application will reside on the laptop.  All data entered will be stored locally in a (presumably Access or Jet) database.  When the person recording the data gets to an Internet connection, they will hit a "synchronize" or "upload" button to upload the most-recent data to the central server.  The server is then accessed via a Web page, so that people can search for info on their loved ones.

        Simple idea, but will take some time to implement.  What do y'all think?

        Jon Sagara

        by jonsagara on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:24:43 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  list (none / 0)

    1. make sure this isn't already being offered elsewhere online.
    2. get a shared server account on some place like dreamhost where you can have root access to install stuff
    3. come up with a database schema.  basic design should be:
       a) anyone can create a person record of firstname, lastname if they are looking for that person.
       b) searching by name should pull up those records
       c) anyone shoudl be able to post notes (like comments) to any person record, either with added requests for information, or notes of what they've heard
       d) missing person should be able to post notes to it (either themselves or through others) to verify their presence
    1. wrapping code around database schema - it's just a matter of who can do the coding.  there are a ton of php coders.
    2. graphic designer to apply design around basic design of site.
    3. push live and then ask for donations as site popularity climbs.

    As noted before, there are already efforts along these lines online.  CNN has a Safe list.  There's also a site named Find Katrina.

    tunesmith's latest song: My Favorite Clown

    by tunesmith on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:13:22 PM PDT

  •  Anyone got a GIS database? Ask ESRI/ Arc Info? (none / 0)

    The Times-Picayune weblog is still full of specific reports of people trapped calling for help -- name and address and location, floor, medical condition all there.

    I hope someone has a Geographic Info System set up -- isn't this routine in this kind of problem?? -- and is putting together the info.

    Rule one of database management, always -- have one database and many pointers, so you don't have multiple copies all mutually inconsistent.

    Backing off a bit -- of course there's such a GIS, the city zoning/building department must have had one.
    Did they have an offsite backup for disaster recovery?

    I don't urge setting something up -- but someone could put together a list of the existing databases and maps and see if anyone's got a central coordinated record of where people were recovered and where nobody's checked yet, compared to the specific calls recorded at the Times-Picayune weblog by name and street number.

    The damn cell phone batteries must be wearing out by now for the people who haven't been helped.  They're going to be silent.

    by ankh on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:14:28 PM PDT

  •  MSNBC already doing something like this... (none / 0)

    here...

    The volunteer database sounds like a good idea though.

    To write in plain vigorous language one has to think fearlessly, and if one thinks fearlessly one cannot be politically orthodox. George Orwell, 1946

    by deepintheheartoftx on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:15:49 PM PDT

  •  here is a good start... (none / 0)

    http://neworleansnetwork.org/

    http://quilted.coop | progressive media for social action

    by erikhopp on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:17:11 PM PDT

  •  miss gulf coast (none / 0)

    for the biloxi area, the sun herald's website has a list running like this already.  (I never got it to load though.)

    by jrcjr on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:18:38 PM PDT

  •  I am not sure (none / 0)

    That we can come up with a really good solution for Katrina, but this is definitly something that should be looked into for future events. There are clearly several huge hurdles that must be over come for a computer based solution to work (ie lack of power, phone lines, etc...) Then there is also the need, like someone posted above, for someone to phyiscally to enter in the information. The information then also needs to be accessible for everyone who is displaced. Seeing that people don't even have running water or food, this is a tall task at the moment. But if started now, in a few days... who knows

    Other fields that I think may be helpfull.
    Mother's Name
    Father's Name
    Brother/sisters names
    Childeren's Names
    Current location

    -5.38 / -6.21

    by EKM on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:19:42 PM PDT

  •  CivicSpace Labs is working on something similar (none / 0)

    right now.

    MeiLin Miranda in SL
    Your Progressive Homemaking Expert!

    by LynnS on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 02:20:33 PM PDT