I was in Baton Rouge this week delivering supplies. I run Rampant (commercial web site hosting and facilities)
I HIGHLY suggest you read through our account at http://www.independenceohio.com/katrina if you are considering any response. This first response was for critical supplies only, nothing to do with technology but some lessons will help you with Mr.DeAloia’s concept as well.

Net, net… YOU MUST bring your own infrastructure. People in the area have be completely self sufficient. I mean everything from sleeping arrangements, food, phones, satellite phones in some areas, power (generator), gasoline, not to mention pens, pencils, bug spray and bandaids.

We are working towards an Independence Business center in (no surprise) Independence, Lousiana, at Exit 40 up the road. It provides a staging area, which is critical. You CANNOT go directly into the areas of devastation without regrouping on the perimeter. You will not be allowed in many areas, such as St.Tammany, New Orleans or similar areas.

All of us can combine forces and share info but advise work towards multiple, smaller “business cells”. Command and control in the area is too difficult. Even back in Cleveland, you have to break things into smaller groups so 50 people aren’t involved in a single meeting. “Big” efforts will bog down if they require handholding and coordination. You’ve got to break it apart which you’ll find at the first meeting. A few resourceful people with the ability to think and act independently can move much faster.

So, build small independent business cells, with good communications back here. They will be able to adapt to local situations, which vary dramatically from place to place and change constantly. Each city or business group has to have the capacity to take care of their own and can coordinate without 200 people in a meeting. We would be happy to join together in a cell with 5-10 businesses, with names and numbers, a group that size that can pull together the support necessary to take care of ourselves. Send contact information to Editor@IndependenceOhio.com.

Good information from the field is critical. Contacts in the field, who know what they are doing. We were very fortunate to have such. We knew exactly what to bring, how and where to get in (avoiding huge issues), and how to get out. Even so we were hammered by issues. Lots of people are learning from each groups earlier mistakes and will continue to do a better job each time. START with in-field contacts.

The huge “show of support” will feel good but trust me that they already know we care. Build small independent teams with direct and specific objectives.