Even if you're stuck behind a keyboard, you can still help

September 5, 2005 9:25 AM

Help process survivor data for missing-persons network (via BoingBoing) The Katrina PeopleFinder Project is an effort to gather online data on missing Katrina disaster victims into an easily searchable database, so their loved ones can be more easily contacted when they are finally found. Via a wiki-style site, volunteers are organized and assigned to enter information gathered from various blogs and online resources.
posted by PsychoKick (8 comments total)

Also here: KatrinaUpdate.com
posted by dash_slot- at 9:54 AM on September 5, 2005

A telemarketer's wet-dream-come-true!
posted by mischief at 10:01 AM on September 5, 2005

I thought about that, but if it helps connect a family I think that they'll be okay dealing with some extra phone calls. I'm inputting records now.
posted by Talanvor at 11:39 AM on September 5, 2005

Probably not worth another FPP, but here is another wiki-esque Katrina-related site that I hadn't seen before. It ties Google Maps to freeform text entry so that people can ask for and receive information about particular areas.
posted by jacobm at 1:32 PM on September 5, 2005

I just did a page. It's quick and intutitive. I encourage everyone to do it. You can make progres in 10 or 15 minutes.

It's tough to read some of the notices. It's difficult to imagine sitting down and writing "I'm looking for my mom and dad, 8- and 84, Metairie, LA, last heard from Monday afternoon."
posted by Miko at 8:42 PM on September 5, 2005

Make that "80 and 84"...
posted by Miko at 8:49 PM on September 5, 2005

This is kind of along the lines of what I thought was needed as I watched hurricane coverage pretty much non-stop over the weekend.

But instead of having to be done in a grassroots fashion after-the-fact, this is *exactly* the type of thing the DHS should have ready for any disaster - a single, easily-remembered web site that can allow for anyone to record themself (and their location) and/or search for lost loved ones.

One reporter on CNN was saying how they couldn't keep up with all the people coming up to them wanting to send a message to the outside world but they would show as many video messages as they could. As part of this central web site, there should be a brief form that could be handed out at disaster areas by relief workers, media, army, etc. and they could have that data entered into the database by interns, underlings or whoever.

Uhm, I should probably go post this over at Half Bakery...
posted by Jaybo at 9:35 PM on September 5, 2005

the DHS should have ready for any disaster - a single, easily-remembered web site that can allow for anyone to record themself (and their location) and/or search for lost loved ones

You're totally right. What's up with that oversight?
posted by Miko at 6:23 AM on September 6, 2005