Steve:

 

How do you say THANKS to all the volunteers like you who have give their time to help the people of the Gulf Coast and NOLA. Here in Vicksburg we have National Guard from Indiana, volunteers that I have met from Iowa, New York, Michigan, Colorado and California. I know there are others, but I spend most of my days in the Joint Command Center.Then, of course, we have volunteers like you and your team who are with us electronically and in spirit.

 

A bit about the computer setup at Vicksburg Convention Center.  We have 8 computers up. 6 are running the PWS software. The other two are running Windows 2000. This was necessary because the PWS doesn't have JAVA and the FEMA assistance form requires JAVA to function.

 

The broadband internet connection is provided by a local ISP...canufly.net. They have their own wireless system and we have a 3 mbps pipeline from them. Four of the computers were loaned by another local computer dealer...Micro-Systems, Inc. The other 4 were surplus from the Army Corps of Engineers. MicroSystems set everything up. I found your site on the web and downloaded the package.

 

Our estimates are that we have somewhere around 10,000 evacuees in our town. This includes those in shelters, in hotels, campgrounds, and those staying in private homes. Our community is about 50,000, so as you can see, we've got quite a number of guests.

 

As I stopped by the the computer area, I was struck and moved by what I was seeing. People using the computers to look at the satellite and aircrtft pgotos of their homes and neighborhoods, and realizing that the computer was giving them a last look at a life that was no more. Many of our guests have no where to go. They will be starting their lives over. Many in a different city or state. It's unreal, surreal, and hard to take in.

 

Something of this magnitude, you have to rejoyce in the little victories...the kids starting school here in Vicksburg, hearing that a youbg lady had gotten a job at a local fast food place. If you look at the disaster in toto, it's overwhelming. This is a great example of "saving the world" one person...or one project, like yours, at a time.

 

Again

Thanks

Bill Ford

IT Specialist