Task Force: Haiti Earthquake

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Permalink Reply by Patrick Meier on January 12, 2010 at 8:58pm

ps. Ushahidi is working on getting a deployment up and ready. I have several tech savvy friends in Haiti who have worked on Ushahidi platforms. I really really really hope they're ok. If they are, then they may be able to get info out via the emergency Ushahidi deployment.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Harned on January 14, 2010 at 10:42pm

There are a lot of local emergency responders (spec. fire service, EMS & Emergency manamgent) deploying to Haiti to support response and recovery. It you integrate crisis mapping experts & GIS into these operations (even at the "response team" level) you will contribute to more efficient and effective operations. This could speed-up response time which could lead to more lives saved in the process. US response teams (i.e. fire & EMT teams) are preparing to deploy right now, and as part of the process they are doing a lot of pre-plan situational awareness work. If crisis mapper network members already have relationships with with their local emergency response agencies, contact them to see how you can help as they prepare to deploy.

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Permalink Reply by Talbot Brooks on January 14, 2010 at 11:36pm

There are 6 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Teams on ground or in the air. These are 210 person teams specializing in search and rescue and they are staffed with a management team that liaises with the Incident Management Team (an integrated operations center coordinating military, FEMA, DHS, etc.. actions). There are also FEMA DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance), DMORT (Disaster Mortuary), and military assets on ground or in the air. Coordinating with these efforts is best and best accomplished through those you may know who serve with them as they will advise you on what they need. If you are needed on site, please be prepared to camp out and you are best advised to establish relations with these teams, if for any reason, accountability (this is another country that has just fallen to pieces and among other building collapses, are the prisons and looting is rampant). We have a solid working relationship with the responding agencies and would be happy to suggest products that can be produced, help facilitate getting them into responder hands, and generally providing guidance so that what is done matches the current priority (the responders will be operating from a 12-hour planning period that prioritizes issues). Apologies in advance if this note wrankles anyone - we mean to inform, not offend.

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Permalink Reply by Dick Kotapish on January 12, 2010 at 9:17pm

I know Digital Globe has a disaster data provision program. Any contacts in this regard? I can get one. I would suggest tapping GISCorps given the 1,000 plus volunteers available. I can liaison in this regard or contact Shoreh Elhami - SElhami@co.delaware.oh.us . The International Charter will also be a resource for tapping the Int. Space Agencies - Authorized User for US is Brenda Jones - bkjones@usgs.gov.

I assume you have contacts with the UN, need to get aerial interpretation data to first responders on the ground...

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Permalink Reply by Patrick Meier on January 12, 2010 at 9:21pm

Thanks very much, Dick. I'm going to add you to the CM*Net Google Group so you can share that information with the good folks on that list (which include UNOSAT and others)

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Permalink Reply by Talbot Brooks on January 14, 2010 at 12:13am

FYI - Brenda is on vacation - I'm not sure who's stepping into that role with Craig Skalet retired now. Best POC within USGS would be Steve Hammond to find out who is assisting in that regard - I will try to contact him in the morning.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff on January 12, 2010 at 9:46pm

Hi Patrick,

OCHA Haiti has an office in Port-au-Prince, Laura Fultang is the IMO, there is also a GIS officer, Luis Hernando and I can set up an installation of Ushahidi on our servers in OCHA Colombia, and Anastasia Moloney from Alertnet will be covering the situation there and has told me she is interested in anything that Ushahidi establishes to georeference both emergency events and the response. UNDAC will obviously be mobilizing a team to head to Haiti, so possibly we could be getting information that needs to be georeferenced there. No guarantees, but I am very concerned about the people there, I hope we can be of assistance.

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Permalink Reply by Luis Hernando Aguilar R on January 12, 2010 at 10:41pm

Hi there. We in Ocha Colombia have just made a earthquake simulation in last october. Please, if we can help with something I hope too we can be of assistance. I think we can draw the information flux in the emergency attendance. http://190.144.128.6/simulacro2009

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Permalink Reply by Patrick Meier on January 12, 2010 at 10:47pm

Thanks very much, Luis

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Permalink Reply by Patrick Meier on January 13, 2010 at 4:18am

Hi All,

Here's what we have so far thanks to invaluable help from UN OCHA/Colombia:

http://haiti.ushahidi.com/main

We're still customizing. It's 3am Boston time so our tech team in Nairobi is taking over. We hope to get dedicated numbers so folks can text/SMS in reports. Please let us know if you want to help out, we'd be most grateful indeed.

In the meantime, CM*Net members have exchanged over 40 emails to collaborate on the response efforts. If you can help, then please join us here:

http://groups.google.com/group/crisismappers

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Permalink Reply by Lynn Lawry MD, MSPH, MSc on January 13, 2010 at 9:19am

Immediate need for mapping of health care facilities and public health infrastructure (water, elec etc....) 70-90% of deaths are due to indirect causes and can increase mortality rates by 50% in the coming months. While aid organizations and search and rescue are happening, there should be a parallel process to restore public health infrastructure.

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Permalink Reply by Patrick Meier on January 13, 2010 at 9:21am

Thanks Lynn

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