Review of Evacuee Computer Assistance Volunteers and Use of Technology in Katrina Shelter

1. Review of Evacuee Computer Assistance Volunteers and Use of Technology in Katrina Shelter Dale Thompson 7/12/06

2. Overview • Systems used for Katrina shelter • Systems used post-shelter • Lessons learned • Ongoing work

3. Shelter Volunteer Systems

4. Volunteer Systems (cont’d)

5. Shelter Computer Assistance Systems

6. Post-Shelter Systems • Volunteer e-mail list still active • - Evacuee resources web pages on AFN web site • United Way coordinated meetings of providers • City Office of Emergency Management meetings with providers • -Local case managers have Yahoo group • -Red Cross implementing new systems • -City implementing pre-qualified tech volunteer system

7. Shelter Challenges • Getting good information to evacuees • Registering at intake ≠ registering with people-finders • Online FEMA forms • Staying in touch post-shelter for updating evacuees and providing them access to computers, e-mail, etc. • Volunteer communication and coordination • Broadcasting new information • Shelter volunteers • Volunteers turned away • Avoiding duplicate work

8. Shelter Challenges (cont’d) • Volunteer training • Correct/useful data in intake, people-finder databases • Supporting adult, new-computer users • Shelter/emergency knowledge (chaplain support, etc.) • Coordinating with City, UT, Red Cross

9. Lessons Learned • Austin: Many tech volunteers • Tech-heads + people-people • City, UT, AMD can deploy quickly • More online systems needed: useful now + for next emergency (Volgistics has promise) • Need disaster relief training module for spontaneous tech volunteers

10. Ongoing Work • Testing new volunteer management software • Pete Collins: pre-screened volunteer group • Harris Newman and Paul Hopingardner: Soliciting feedback for improving IT response in the future