Changes between Version 31 and Version 32 of BluePrintCERT


Ignore:
Timestamp:
03/16/12 16:26:50 (13 years ago)
Author:
Laura Lanford
Comment:

edits to description. Addition of links.

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  • BluePrintCERT

    v31 v32  
    22[[TOC]]
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    4 Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) are local, disaster trained volunteer groups that, among other responsibilities, provide trained support when an emergency overwhelms a community's resources.
     4[http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/ Community Emergency Response Teams] (CERTs) are disaster trained volunteer groups that provide trained support when an emergency overwhelms a community's resources.  CERTs are organized locally and provide both emergency response and preparedness outreach in their own communities.
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    6 There are more than 1800 CERTs in the U.S, most of whom are there for small communities that have limited professional emergency response capability.  They are a valuable resource that are very often underutilized due to coordination.  There are commercial platforms available to coordinate volunteers, but most have two serious issues:  complexity and cost. 
     6There are more than 1800 CERTs in the U.S, most of whom serve small communities with limited professional emergency response capability.  When used correctly these teams are a valuable resource, but too often they are underutilized due to lack of coordination.  There are commercial platforms available to coordinate volunteers, but most have two serious issues:  complexity and cost. 
    77
    88Sahana-Eden offered a promising open source solution for coordination both within and between CERTs.  Since Chicago CERT and Sahana-Eden first collaborated in late 2010, we have talked to dozens of CERTs teams to design a solution specific to CERTs and their unique needs and workflows.
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    10 Our goal is to make the Sahana-CERT branch intuitive and flexible, to allow it to be used easily by non-technical CERT coordinators but still allow access to Sahana's powerful functionality.  Our focus at Random Hacks of Kindness 2011 was to create a comfortable, intuitive interface that would allow any CERT coordinator to use Sahana-Eden "out of the box".  The RHoK team did an amazing job, which can be seem at the demo site, and won first place at RHoK Austin for their work.
     10Our goal is to make the Sahana-CERT branch intuitive and flexible, to allow it to be used easily by non-technical CERT coordinators but still allow access to Sahana's powerful functionality.  Our focus at Random Hacks of Kindness 2011 was to create a comfortable, user-friendly interface that would allow any CERT coordinator to jump right into using Sahana-Eden.  The RHoK team did an amazing job, which can be seen at the [http://cert.sahanafoundation.org demo site], and won first place at [http://sahanafoundation.org/sahana-eden-cert-solution-takes-1st-place-at-rhok-austin/ RHoK Austin] for their work.
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    12 We are already getting requests from CERTs all over the United States who are desperate for a solution like this.  CERTs receive relatively little funding, most of which goes to training and equipment for their volunteers.  Many coordinators have neither the time to implement a custom solution nor the money to purchase a commercial solution. 
     12We are already getting requests from CERTs all over the United States who are desperate for a coordination solution.  CERTs receive relatively little funding, most of which goes to training and equipment for their volunteers.  Most coordinators have neither the time to implement a custom solution nor the money to purchase a commercial solution. 
    1313
    1414The opportunity to have a world class system like Sahana-Eden, customized for CERTs, just for the cost of maintaining the instance is a wonderful thing.  After evaluation of our beta implementation with City of Chicago, the Sahana-CERT branch will be available for use by every CERT in the country.  This could improve the emergency response outcomes of hundreds of communities struck by local and large scale disasters.
    … …  
    2525 * [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhok_chicago/sets/72157625529538216/ Photos]
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    27 And continued at RHoK 2011, where it won first prize at RHoK - Austin
     27Work continued at RHoK 2011:
    2828 * [wiki:BluePrintCERT/RHoK2011]
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