What is the role of a Community Internet Network during an Emergency?

What is the role of a Community Internet Network during an Emergency?

Community Internet Networks, like RAIN, improve the quality of live in the Communities they serve. They expand the scope of Internet access, encourage seniors, youth and families to learn new technology literacy skills and make the most of the Internet as tool that works for them.

I have always felt this aspect of the Internet to be much like re-weaving the fabric of our community to include value of communication that made tradition American Communities so strong. Finding ways to get Neighborhood communication and Community government and small business out to everyone in the region using the Internet as a new way to link folks together. But Community Internet Networks also play an important role in regional Emergency Services.

A good example of the Internet being used as a tool for Community Information from the National level is the Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network, (CEPIN), located on the web at: http://www.cepintdi.org/.

On the State level California provides a good example of an Emergency Management web site at : http://www.oes.ca.gov/Operational/OESHome.nsf/1?OpenForm

An example of a well prepared County Emergency Management web site is the Santa Barbara County (SBC OES) located on the web at: http://www.sbcfire.com/oes/index.html

After the County comes the Community Network, serving as an NGO, providing an essential bridge between the Community, local, state and federal Government agencies. In Rural communities this can mean a great deal, where folks have learned to use the Community Network as an Information source. In many Communities churches and schools have become familiar with their Community Networks and will turn to those web sites for information.

Community Networks represent an important part of a comprehensive network of Emergency Services. We can rely on our local Community Internet Networks, like RAIN, to provide a bridge to County, State and Federal Information via the web as well as to serve as an additional point of outreach to many parts of the community which might not think to access Government web sites online.

Community Internet Networks, working with local emergency services agencies, can establish a safety net to assist in dealing with emergencies, working within a specific region, providing tools and resources for health education, incident reporting, community to clinic and patient to Doctor online communications. Add to this the ability of Community Internet Systems to develop effective Community Telemedicine GIS datasets and maps which can provide real-time information on available Doctors, vaccines, special care facilities, quarantine sites and other information as needed and you significanly expand the role the Internet can play.

One of the lessons learned in New Orleans was that we have to be prepared to handle emergency situations on a local level as much as possible. The better prepared we are locally the more State and Federal assistance will be able to get in and help. The closer to Neighborhood level the better.

As long as the electricity is on the Internet gives us a powerful tool for Telemedicine, and Community Emergency Information and Reporting.

We should be prioritizing our GIS data readiness, video delivery readiness and the organization of Community Information Volunteers who will keep news current through blogs on the Community Network’s web page.

And even when the electricity goes out, we know it will be back on before long and then we’re going to need all the Information we can get and the Internet, unlike any other Information Technology we have (such as TV, Newspapers and Radio) permits for ongoing User input on a multiple of levels, keeping the flow of information during an emergency going 2 ways all the time.

Go to http://www.rain.org to review the RAIN Community Network homepage. If you have any questions you can email me at rain@rain.org