I learned about the massive earthquake at 7:00 A.M. EST and immediately got in touch with the Ushahidi Tech Team to set up an Ushahidi-Chile platform. I then reached out to my colleagues from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and others who contributed their time to the Haiti deployment. They are are now responding to the earthquake in Chile and tsunami effected countries. This time, however, the volunteers are trained and the Ushahidi Tech Team simply cloned the Ushahidi-Haiti version for Chile. We’re already busy customizing the deployment for Chile. So everything is actually moving twice as fast and so is the CrisisMappers Group.
Customizing Ushahidi-Chile
We all realize that this is a risk coming so soon after the massive efforts around the Haiti quake. But we didn’t have all the answers then either. I will collaborate closely with the Fletcher/Tufts team and look for volunteer groups with universities in Mexico and Colombia, for example. I’ve already reached out to my good friend Oscar Salazar who launched the successful Ushahidi-Mexico platform and he is mobilizing his network of volunteers in Mexico. I’m also reaching out to our South American colleagues at GlobalVoices.
We’ve already set up a long code that individual can use to text in their location and urgent needs: +44 762.480.2524. Note that we are working with our partners to set up a short code for Chile. So the one listed here 4636 is not operational. Please standby for more information on a local short code. In the meantime, you can submit reports directly online here. You can also send an email to chile@ushahidi.com with specific location information and urgent needs.
We will provide further updates on this blog and also on our Twitter feed @ushahidi.
30 Responses
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Wow. It is good to see the lesson learnt being applied so quickly. Now that is progress. Good luck to all the Chile Team.
Fair play to you all for getting this up so quickly! I know how hard everyone already just worked recently on the Haiti map. Good luck.
Amazine work again!! Best of luck w/ the Chilean esponse effort.Let me know if i can assist in any way.
We donated a bit of money today via paypal. I challenge all who read this to do the same and support our fam in Chili & ppl powered volunteerism via positive tech innovation. W00ty W00tz! Go Usha Go!
T&LM Madison in Canada
You folks are the beginning of the World Brain–the bottom up mutlicultural world brain. Very admiring of all that you are doing. Featured your Haiti work and now pointing folks at your Chile work.
BRAVO!!!!
i just came across your posts while i was searching for ways in which i could possibly volunteer for disaster support in chile. I am an american citizen and fluent in spanish. i lived in latin america for 6 years and would like to go with a team to chile if my physical abilities would be of any help. Would you be able to direct me or provide insight if my help would even be of any value? I can leave my work at the drop of a hat and travel to chile immediately. Just trying to find a way to help.
thanks!
Is it possible to volunteer and help in this mission. I am already here in santiago chile and am just waiting to see what i can do.
i would like to volunteer can you post some information about it …
am interested in your organ please l want your details
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