Technology Firms Aiding in Katrina Recovery Effort
echnology companies are offering money, equipment and expertise to help with the recovery effort and reconnect survivors in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the Associated Press reported.
Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp., Cisco Systems, SBC Communications, Dell and others are working with the Red Cross to build voice and data communications at hundreds of evacuation shelters, and link them together, AP said.
Besides destroying a wide swath of Gulf Coast homes and businesses, Katrina devastated the area's communications infrastructure, knocking out conventional phone and cellular service to millions in the region.
Equipment being provided, including laptop computers and wireless access points, will help the relief agency track evacuees as well as help them find emergency funds and track lost relatives, an Intel spokeswoman told AP.
ntel and other companies already have employees working with the Red Cross in Washington. About 150 wireless access points as well as 1,500 Dell Inc. and Lenovo notebooks are expected to be deployed early this week.
Hundreds of tech workers are expected to be sent into the disaster area and evacuation centers to help. Intel said more than 200 of its employees have been mobilized, AP reported.
Wireless data networks are expected to be widely used because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to set up once electricity is available. Such networks not only transport data but also Internet-based telephone service.
The companies are focusing first on building up the Red Cross' network, providing Internet access, computers and telephones, AP said.
Besides equipment and expertise, the companies also are donating cash. Microsoft and Intel have pledged $1 million each to relief organizations and are matching their employees' contributions.
