Internet Disaster Recovery

But what's clear from watching today's news coverage of the storm's aftermath is that this country is going to have to absorb a large number of displaced New Orleans-area residents, for a time yet to be determined. After basic needs (food, water, medicine) are taken care of, there are going to be a whole lot of people who will want somewhere more permanent to stay than Houston's Astrodome.

Let's hope some of the nation's biggest companies -- especially those getting rich off telecommunications -- move quickly to help pair victims with potential donors of living space, food, jobs and other aid. As many San Francisco residents know, the community of Craigslist uses the connecting power of the Internet to link real people for real transactions in the human world. With a little bit of connectivity help, maybe more Americans can participate in the massive rebuilding and relocation effort required to overcome Katrina's destruction.

Already, Cisco Systems is stepping to the plate with not just cash, but solutions that include voice mail for people without phones, and "mobile communication kits" that the company says can quickly provide IP-based telephone access in areas where traditional telephone infrastructure has collapsed.

That's a great start. If your company has unique skills or communications savvy that it is ready to donate, let me know and I'll pass it along in this forum.