This post is the public version of the question going around through my head since I returned form Europe on Thursday.

I have seen layers and layers of anecdotal reports in blogs and in the media about the relief efforts, and I have seen lists of charity links offered up everywhere.

What is needed is a comprehensive map that identifies needs and projects to meet them on a state > county > city > neighborhood breakdown level.
All relief organizations can use the site to identiy needs and avoid overlaps.

Bloggers can post within areas, and get their comments noticed in a framework that other readers (area residents, etc) can read them.

The good news is that I already developed the software for this when I went to India last january for the Tsunami!

Please, everyone who sees this on technorati, etc. please check out my previous development at the Tsunami Relief Map, and give me your candid opinion regarding whether it would be worth the effort to rework it for Katrina! I have been looking to see if this is already being done by someone else. If so, please send links.

Here is more info on the idea:
1) I can set up the site, but I will need channels for revenue to develop and maintain it in an attractive manner. Sponsorships? Advertising?
2) The previous site was about 85% complete, so those issues will need to be worked out
3) The previous site never got off the ground because I put all i could into it, and could not get any sponsors to carry us the rest of the way
—- plus, it was late Jan by the time it was ready, and South India was already set in the track they were in
—- AND.. of course India still does not have the blogging/web using community like you see in the US
4) For Katrina, i plan to make the comments portion more blog and rss friendly, which will help bloggers see and use the value of it.
— posts from others can be double posted between us and original blog through tools to be developed.
5) Relief organizations, contrary to common belief really do work in competition with each other.. the vision for the relief map is to create grassroots accountability and build cooperation for all people working to make a difference.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 5th, 2005 at 9:35 am and is filed under General info and Inspiration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.