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1993-01-08
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In the summer of 1989, a few Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) System Operators
(SysOps) got together in California to discuss the prospects of how to best
implement the use of bulletin board systems should a disaster occur.
The meeting was no different than any previous meeting held since 1987.
One conclusion came from that meeting, a genuine need for a data
communications network during, or after a disaster.
There was little enough in the way of installed technology when Hurricane
Hugo slammed into the East Coast of the United States. As a test, data
communications were established to several surviving bulletin board systems
along the coast in vain attempt to coordinate a flow of information out of
the stricken areas.
Many a node in FidoNet enjoyed some of the tales of sysops trying to
recover their homes, and put their lives back in order, but this test did
not fulfill the actual needs of the general public. Since the information
coming out of areas like Charlotte was sketchy at best and lacked a clear
definition of the actual damage, the rest of us throughout the United
States had no real understanding for what was actually needed to relieve
the suffering of those in the effected areas.
We learned several rules, trying to establish connections during the hurricane
recovery, that later we applied during the October 1989 Bay Area Earthquake:
1) Relying on news reports for accurate information is unwise.
(Reference: The Annenberg Washington Program issue:
Communication When It's Needed Most see pages 40 - 57)
2) Data Communication is almost nonexistent immediately following a
disaster. Only a BBS offers immediate data capability in and out of
any effected area using cheap existing phone lines.
3) Phone lines tend to have higher survivability rate than power
lines. No external power is needed to drive the phone line. Power
consumption would only be required by the end terminal or computer
device.
4) There was no existing administrative arm of any of the popular BBS
networks capable of quickly setting up an emergency communications
system in and out of the effected area.
Logically, the establishment of an network devoted to emergency
communications became the next step. With little or no time to fully plan
this concept, an earthquake rocked the bay area in mid October. The
incredible amount of damage, followed by the concentration of news crews
both local, and of national origin, on the three main stories, made getting
the rest of the damage assessment impossible.
BBS operators teamed together from the bay to provide an outlet of mail to
various boards outside the "rim" of the destruction. Most of the mail
processed were strictly requests for next of kin notification that loved
ones were indeed okay, but without any form of communications in some areas,
and physical access cut off by damaged highways and bridges there was no
way of communicating outward from the city.
Additionally messages were processed outside the stricken area by board
operators who then phoned relief agencies and gave them advice on road
travel conditions so trucks carrying relief supplies could get into the
city to provide warm clothing, food and water for the survivors.
During the entire event, two digitized pictures, taken by polaroid camera
by a sysop, scanned using a hand scanner, then sent out via file attach to
a netmail message resulted in a better understanding of the actual damage
in areas not so well publicized.
Toward the first two days a network emerged from the rubble, a network
which became the basis of the Emergency Network, (USCATCOM) for United
States Crisis Action Team Communications. Forming a team of BBS sysops, we
established a network which would later provide message routing to and from
several relief supply depots for storm disasters in the Caribbean, as well
as storms in the Gulf States region.
In Australia, the first foreign sysops to work in the Emergency Network,
sysops passed information following a quake on their Eastern Coast.
Message traffic was routed in and out of a city that was almost totally cut
off from the outside world.
Since that time, USCATCOM has completely merged into the Emergency Network
(EmergNet), and are now one in the same. A sysop carrying the EmergNet
logo in their Origin line is an assurance of their commitment to data
communications following an emergency.
EmergNet exists solely because a solid group of sysops are dedicated to the
further use of BBS systems to aide in disaster communications.
The power to move a book of information or raw data, in a few minutes using
high speed modems, raw data is unmatched by any other relief network in the
world. Together with our friends in the Amateur Radio ARES/RACES, we form a
powerful communications tool to aide those who need the information to make
tough decisions following a disaster.
"EmergNet" exists today as it's own network, having nodes, or have network ties
throughout the world. Our EmergNet goal is to bridge the gap into any network
necessary to get the operation achieved, as well as offer that same access to
those who need to tie in with us.
If you have any questions, please contact either of the following:
Director:
Gary Reardon
P.O. Box 519
W. Warren, MA 01092-0519
Home 413-967-8167
Work: 413-781-0532
Fax: 413-739-9839
FidoNet: 1:321/131
CompuServe: >INTERNET: Gary.Reardon@f131.n321.z1.fidonet.org
Internet: Gary.Reardon@f131.n321.z1.fidonet.org
Associate Director:
John Kihl
P.O. Box
Greensburg, PA
Home: 412-838-8891
FidoNet: 2610/14
BBS: 412-834-1128