The New York Tech Meetup may be pioneering a new way to respond to disaster. Following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, the technology-centered organization created an online forum that allows anyone to collaborate on relief projects, volunteering, donating materials or office space and finding
technological assistance.
Starting in 2004, NYTM has been bringing the tech-savvy and tech-interested from around New York for a monthly conference on new projects and ideas in the local technology community at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. It provides a platform for innovation and cooperation among the nerdiest of New York City.
In response to the storm two weeks ago, organizers of the NYTM have brought their community and collaborative platform to support technological relief efforts.
Their website, nytechresponds.org, provides information about volunteering, donating or seeking help. In particular, the site hosts an open-web document for collaboration on different hacking projects, in which organizations use crowdsourcing as a means for improving their relief projects. The site has more than 50 projects listed as seeking assistance, many of which depend on public input. Among these is disasterreliefmap.com, an open-source map where users report information about resources, such as drop-off donation centers and gas stations with or without fuel.
“We are expanding volunteering beyond on-the-ground volunteering,” said Jessica Lawrence, managing director at the NYTM. “If people can get online and start connecting following a disaster like this, the recovery efforts can happen much faster.”
More than 800 volunteers from as far away as Chicago have signed up so far, volunteering and collaborating on different projects.
In our technology-driven world, crowdsourcing as a response to disasters may become the norm. Lead volunteer Noel Hidalgo views this initiative as a part of a larger social movement.
“We are building a permeable system where crowd practices can exist alongside traditional top-down organizations,” he said. “So while limited government resources [struggle] to provide services, bottom-up and crowd powered systems provide new ways for communities to respond to disaster.”
Nytechresponds.org continues to look for volunteers who may be able to contribute to the response and is reaching out to the NYU community.
“We welcome anyone from NYU to volunteer,” Lawrence said. “I think it’s a great time for NYU students to build technology solutions for the greater community.”
Some students, like CAS sophomore Cindy Pi, said this website is a good idea.
“Students here are really passionate about helping, so giving them this platform to make it easier is helpful,” Pi said. “The only thing is getting the word out to people, but once NYU students know about the site and the effort. I’m sure they’d want to get involved.”
A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Nov. 16 print edition. Alistair Blacklock is a contributing writer. Email him at [email protected].
