The goal is to create a single access point for disaster information that empowers local communities through tools, training, and participation as volunteers and first responders. Challenges include gaining buy-in, ensuring usage, addressing access

1. Disaster Preparedness
A Switch-Board Concept
Presented To : US Embassy & US AID Nepal
21st October 2011
Presented By
Bijay Niraula
On Behalf of
ANMF/ASNEngr/CAN-USA Joint Committed for
Earthquake Preparedness and Disaster Relief for Nepal

2. THE BACK DROP
1. RoHOK – Google Global Initiative
2. Hackathon – Nepali word “Parma” –
3. HimalayanDisasterResponse.org – Sept 18th
Response
4. Interaction and Communication with local stake
holders in Nepal
5. Result a Switch Board Portal Concept

3. Parties Involved in Disaster Management
Diplomatic Missions
Facilitators Home Ministry
ICIMOD
HLCIT
CAN
Non-Profit ( NGOs)
Save Lives Donors
Disaster Risk
Reduction
Local Clubs Sahana
Engineering Networks Community Technology Ushahidi
Guthis Volunteers Google App Engine
Schools DisInventor (archived data)
Open Street Maps
Risk-in-a-box (risk
assessment tool

4. Multiple Efforts Needs
Coordination & Compilation

5. Challenge: Multi-portal/Multi-platform
ICIMOD Home Ministry
(In-house (Sahana &
system, GIS Ushahidi)
based)
NSET
External Websites - NGOs (Risk Reduction
(fragmented data) eg Pre-disaster)
Youth for Disaster Risk
Reduction
Social Media
Twitter
Facebook
Youtube

6. Proposed Solution: Centralized repository
Google Google
Store Store
Switch Board
Portal
“Guwali”
Google App Engine
Public APIs (xls, fax): People Finder, Maps, Incident API
Home
ICIMOD NSET HCICT Social Media
Ministry

7. Public API and Other Data Input Tools
• People Finder API
– Integrates with Sahana, Google People Finder
• Maps API
– Integrates with Open Street Maps, Google Maps
• Incident API
– Safe Places to be, Hospitals, Volunteers needed,
– Immediate Food supply
– Medical Attention Needed
• RSS News Feeds, Static Data , Links, live video streaming

8. Crowdsourced Data
Switch Board
Bidirectional Data Exchange
NGOs/Red
ICIMOD Volunteers Social Media
Cross

9. Disaster Specific portal from Central Repository
Earthquake
Disaster Portal
HDR Centralized
Switch Board
Flood Disaster
Portal
Terrorist Attacks
Disaster Portal

10. Differentiator
• Third Party – apolitical Nepalese Diasphora
Involvement – existing multiple partners
• Multi-feed – Multiplatform Integration – last
person standing.
• Eg. Google Person Finder – open-source API
many stake holders already using it.

12. Google People Finder In Japan
•Multiple Stake holders to implement this in their portal
• Sensitive information available only for specific purposes.

13. Differentiator
• Third Party – apolitical Nepalese Diasphora
Involvement – existing multiple partners
• Multi-feed – Multiplatform Integration – last
person standing.
• Democratization of DATA

14. Participation and Volunteers
Types – local youths clubs, NGOs, Guthis, Schools, experts
• Pre-disaster
• Asset Mapping (GIS plus crowd sourced)
• Provide local training – with in their community
• During Disaster and Post Disaster
• First Responders -
• Communication hubs -
• Experts/ volunteers (national/international/nepali diasphora)

15. Local Partner with 54 Affiliations Nationally

16. Media – Major Part of The Effort
• Social Media
• Websites
• FM Radio
• Local News Papers
• PSA (Simplified Message)

17. Challenges
1. Buy in from the different entities – Push back.
2. Creating a portal is not enough it needs to be used.
3. People who are not internet savvy or are not-
literate/how to address their needs
4. Security Concerns – all the data could fall into wrong
hands
5. Data Share Concerns -
6. Creating an off-line component.. PSA systems, FM
Radios.

18. Advantages
• Transparency
– Prevents duplication of efforts...
– Sharing of technology and resources...
• Empowering local communities/especially local
youths to be proud of their neighborhoods (Asset
Mapping)
• Creating a competitive environment between and
w/in communities (star system like the Scouts
• Training - citizenry - getting plugged into an
organized system

19. Positive Social Change
Through Disaster Management
• Power in the hands of the people - Locally
• (International Nepali Diaspora) involvement –
creating opportunities for idea exchange, and
some form of check and balance.
• Creating systems to grow democratic principals
• Freedom comes from responsibility – instill
among the youth – the future of a nation.

20. EMPOWER THE PEOPLE
GIVE THEM THE TOOLS
TOGETHER WE WILL BUILD A NEW NEPAL