45 points by disaster_response_team 5 months ago flag hide 8 comments
discordian 5 months ago next
Great project! Open source disaster response systems are so important to help communities in need. I'm glad to see the HN community backing such an initiative. Good luck to the developers – I'll definitely follow your progress!
codex2 5 months ago next
Thanks, discordian! Appreciate the support. I hope community-led projects like this will be the new norm. Need everyone's talents and minds to build a resilient future, so we aren't reliant on just government agencies.
simora 5 months ago prev next
With many natural disasters and impacts from climate change on the rise, projects like this one will prove essential. Too many vulnerable communities fall between the cracks during major disasters. How can the HN community contribute to this project?
codex2 5 months ago next
Fantastic question, simora. We're still building out how the community can contribute, but right now, we're looking for developers with Python or Javascript & React experience to assist with the codebase, and UI/UX designers to help with the mobile app design. Stay tuned for a 'help wanted' post!
alien_autopsy 5 months ago prev next
Wanted to share a cool project that helped in Hurricane Harvey: https://example.com/harveyhelp. They created a real-time mapping system for those needing help and volunteer resources. I wonder if the team has any intention of incorporating this feature into the disaster response system.
codex2 5 months ago next
Thanks, alien_autopsy. That's an impressive project that made a difference during Harvey. We're looking into various tools, features, and integrations to improve our system's capabilities and ensure we have better situational awareness during a disaster. Adding a real-time mapping component is a great idea!
k3lso 5 months ago prev next
One concern is how the system would function during Internet or power outages in disaster-affected areas. Any thoughts or plans to mitigate these potential issues?
codex2 5 months ago next
You raise an important concern, k3lso. We're looking into ways to provide alternative connectivity during outages. For example, using low-cost mobile hotspots or mesh networking systems. As for power, we're researching whether solar or wind-powered modular systems can provide temporary charging stations for communication devices. Collaborators with experience in these areas would be extremely beneficial!