Archive:  How a GDIN Might Engage or Help Local Communities For more information on this archive page, contact secretariat@gdin.org the Report Purpose A key issue here is to develop a plan of action, which includes taking advantage of information sources at the field level, as well as finding ways of moving information to the field in appropriate formats. Summary The Global Disaster Information Network (GDIN) held its 3rd international conference at the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, April 26-29, 2000. Working Group 2c, "How GDIN might Engage or Help Local Communities, especially those with poor communication capabilities", presented a report on its activities since it was established at the 2nd GDIN conference in Mexico City, Mexico in 1998. Patricia Jocius, Emergency Services Coordinator, San Mateo Fire Department, California discussed her work with community-based organizations and community collaborative groups, (http://www.PrepareNow.org) The Global Disaster Information Network's goals and objectives include providing information to local user communities long before a disaster to assist in disaster prevention and mitigation activities as well as providing alerting and warning information just before hurricanes, tropical cyclones, tsunamis, winter storms, flooding, etc in order to help preparedness and evacuation activities. The disaster information network should also be of assistance to local communities to help them provide damage assessment information and requests for assistance to higher authority after the disaster. Working Group 2c developed a plan of action at the Ankara conference. We have formed a virtual working group "How GDIN Could Help Local Communities" and plan to present a report at the 4th Global Disaster Information Network (GDIN) Conference, Canberra, Australia, March 21-23, 2000. Our virtual working group 2c is soliciting advice and assistance from members of user organizations. We need to define and clarify user needs for disaster information. The information technology developers already have capabilities for remote sensing from satellites, and are working on numerous other research projects. Local community emergency managers need to establish closer working relationships with information technology developers. We need to examine both user requirements and existing disaster information systems and try to develop composite information management systems which incorporate the best features of existing systems. We should take advantage of the information technology developments which will be presented at the GDIN Information Technology Exposition & Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, 9-11 October 2000, http://www.erim-int.com/CONF/GDIN.html Those interested in participating in our virtual working group on how GDIN could help local communities are invited to contact Russell C. Coile, CEM, Emergency Program Manager, City of Pacific Grove, Pacific Grove, California 93950 USA, Tel: (831) 649-8946 Fax: (831) 648-3107, e-mail: russell@coile.com. Coordinator Dr. Russell C. Coile CEM, Disaster Coordinator, Pacific Grove Fire Department, Pacific Grove, California Members Mario Aquilar Minister Counselor, Embassy ot Mexico to the United States Polat Gulkan Director of Disaster Management Research Center, Middle East Technical University Patricia Jocius Emergency Coordinator, San Mateo, CA, USA Laurie Johnson Risk Management Solutions (RMS) California Gao Risheng Vice Director, Admin Center for China's Agenda 21 Fang Zhiyong Director, Dept of Disaster and Social Relief, China Presentations Additional Information The Global Disaster Information Network - GDIN 2000 April 26-29, 2000, Ankara, Turkey --Dr. Russell C. Coile