Re: [emergency] Fwd: RE: Establishing A Centralized Database For Katrina Evacuees

["Kon Wilms" <kon@datacast.biz>]

Sounds like a good idea but I note that no-one in the thread expressed
any security concerns. This centralized database server would be
pummeled by all kinds of folks interested in looting, identity theft and
fraud. 

I think one would be better served by one database storing no more
information than is contained in a white pages book, along with unique
keys that can be mapped to other decentralized databases, some or more
which would require more security (such as an individual's SS# or
current location).

I can't imagine the people finder schema would scale well for tens of
thousands of people... it seems like a good replacement for something
like a personal ACT contact list at most. Some things just require a
real database instead of a monolithic XML file.

Cheers
Kon

> Comments?
> 
> 
> >Delivered-To: ejones@warningsystems.com
> >X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 6.5.2
> >Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 16:51:11 -0400
> >From: "Alan Kotok" <akotok@aaas.org>
> >To: <carol.geyer@oasis-open.org>, <jamie.clark@oasis-open.org>
> >Cc: <ejones@warningsystems.com>
> >Subject: RE: Establishing A Centralized Database For Katrina Evacuees
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> >Carol, Elysa:
> >
> >I found an XML specification called People Finder Interchange Format.
> >It may be a good complement or addition to the Emergency Management TC.
> >This spec is in use at KatrinaList.net (http://katrinalist.net/), a
> >project of the Katrina People Finder Project. Best regards.
> >
> >
> >Alan Kotok
> >Managing Editor, Science/Next Wave
> >akotok@aaas.org
> >+1 202-326-8965
> >http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/
> >
> >
> > >>> "Carol Geyer" <carol.geyer@oasis-open.org> 09/09/05 04:16PM >>>
> >Alan,
> >The OASIS Emergency Management TC is doing a lot of work that will help
> >in the event of future Katrinas. I'm not sure if we have
> >anything going on now to address the specific need identified here. It
> >does seem like something that could be easily resolved. I'll
> >pass this message on to the TC chair.
> >
> >Best regards,
> >Carol
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Alan Kotok [mailto:akotok@aaas.org]
> >Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 9:19 AM
> >To: jamie.clark@oasis-open.org
> >Cc: carol.geyer@oasis-open.org
> >Subject: Establishing A Centralized Database For Katrina Evacuees
> >
> >Jamie:
> >
> >The following message was posted yesterday on the Computer Book
> >Publishers list-serve, and it points out an immediate serious need
> >that OASIS standards may be able to address ...
> >
> >------------------------------
> >
> >Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 18:53:56 -0700
> >From: Jeffrey Carr <rainieri.carr@gmail.com>
> >To: cbp@lists.studiob.com
> >Subject: Establishing A Centralized Database For Katrina Evacuees
> >Message-ID: <5ff3627605090818535d1fa980@mail.gmail.com>
> >
> >This seems like an obvious solution to an extremely serious problem.
> >Thousands of family members are scattered across who knows how many
> >evacuation centers in a dozen or more states. All of those
> >centers have phone lines, and most have computers. Still, these centers
> >are not talking to each other. There's no central archive of
> >information on the evacuees.
> >Just some informal blogs and some local listings.
> >
> >I'm not a DBA, but I really don't think that this should be such a
> >difficult problem to solve. Any centralized online registration
> >process should do the trick. Maybe having Gmail or another free email
> >service set up a specialized email identifier. Everyone
> >registers with their name, their shelter address, contact info, etc.
> >Then create a searchable GUI for registered users.
> >
> >Is this really that hard to do? Does anyone else here have any ideas on
> >how to accomplish it?
> >
> >Jeff Carr
> >Technical Writer
> >Instructional Designer
> >
> >http://metamaps.typepad.com
> >http://www.nahualli.com
> >
> >------------------------------
> >
> >OASIS's TCs dealing with e-government or emergency management probably
> >have the business expertise, which combined with the deep
> >technology skills of the members should be able to solve this problem.
> >
> >This is not an academic issue here ... one my colleagues at Next Wave
> >is from New Orleans, and while her immediate family is
> >accounted for, a few members of her extended family are still missing.
> >Best regards.
> >
> >
> >Alan Kotok
> >Managing Editor, Science/Next Wave
> >akotok@aaas.org
> >+1 202-326-8965
> >http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/