Subject: [Ieprep] real problem: sequel to emergency response team feedback

From: "Ayyasamy, Senthilkumar (UMKC-Student)" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 02:37:15 -0600

Sean Donelan post to nanog list on Dec 09, 2002 
> Guam was struck by Typhoon Pongona with sustanted winds of 
> 150 mph, and
> gusts of 184 mph.  Electricity is out on the entire island.  Most
> telephone service is down, although some calls have been 
> received.  The
> University of Guam, the the ccTLD manager for .GU, is offline.  Backup
> name service for .GU is being provided by NS.RIPE.NET, 
> although I haven't
> found working Internet service to the island.

Sean Donelan post to nanog list on Dec 12, 2002 
> The local telephone company has restored partial commercial service.
> Commercial electric service is still down. The cable landing 
> stations and
> networks with direct connections remained available throughout the
> typhoon.  Other locations lost service when intermediate transmission
> facilities on the island lost power or were destroyed.  University of
> Guam's systems stayed up throughout the typhon, but lost connectivity
> through their upstream provider. Most locations are still operating on
> backup power.  A fire at the island's fuel storage farm has caused the
> authorities to restrict access to fuel supplies.

A quick browse through http://news.google.com/ gave some facts:

- Like 9/11, power management was the biggest problem and some loss in
  Business establishments.

- Ham Radio users were wonderful source of information (like any other emergency
  situation.)

- As Govt declared it as state emergency, FEMA/PHS/USACE was in service.

- http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/recovery/story/0,10801,76559,00.html
  "WorldCom Inc., which provides some of the cable connections that link Guam to the 
  outside world, was ready to go as soon as the local telephone provider re-energized 
  its lines.
  ....
  Tony Das, managing director of Startec+PCI, a cellular and Internet service provider, 
  said it may be weeks before power is restored. "I told my chief engineer here to make 
  sure the generator is in good enough condition to last at least two months if 
  necessary," he said. 

  Startec maintained its connectivity with the island's two main cable stations and is 
  supplying Internet services to its customers who still have working lines. For those 
  who can't connect from their homes or offices, Das said he plans to set up computers 
  and telephones at his offices and invite customers to use them"

-  http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2002/12/09/daily23.html
   "TWR operates five shortwave transmitters on Guam. The antenna array suffered severe damage, 
   although all the towers remained erect and apparently undamaged. Three of the five antenna 
   curtains were "shredded," according to TWR's staff on the island. 
   
   The other two were damaged, but the staff hopes to be able to repair and re-install 
   them later this week."

- http://www.guampdn.com/news/stories/20021212/localnews/553616.html
  "All University of Guam students and faculty members must meet during their scheduled exam 
  times during exam week, Dec. 16 to 18, to complete the semester, according to a UOG press 
  release. But all classes scheduled this week have been canceled. "
   But , even during typhoon students have to work.

Kimberly said:
> Fred was absolutely right in discouraging discussions of  solutions 
> space  before requirements.  However, something even more  fundamental
> is missing--a  concise statement of the problem to be solved.  
> 
> Over two *years* ago, Sean Donelan asked some probing questions.
> ( http://www.iepscheme.net/archive/0045.html )
> "What problems have emergency service users actually had using the
> Internet?"
> .....
> In order to discuss requirements, there has to be a crisp 
> definition of the  problem to be solved.

A 10 minutes browse through the news articles listed the following as various emergency
rescue teams deployed at guam: "Red cross, FEMA, Puublic Health services, memorial 
hospital volunteers,Guam Salvation Army, US Navy, GEPA, GETS(?)" (might be more....)

Lets try to define the problem here: 
 How can Internet help to co-ordinate between these emergeny response teams? 

Points to be considered:

* Cell phones, PDA and IP phones will be very useful in a place like 
  guam where their is no complete Internet coverage. 

* IM, email service will be very useful. But, this requires no special work 
  in ieprep.

* Service like IAA will be very useful. But, we have to look into security issues..
  DoS attacks on such databases.

* we need to have wireless LAN to help local emergency response operation.

* more ...

- How can Internet actually help ieprep community in a place where their is no/minimal
  Internet connectivity? 

- What does the emergency response community expect from IETF in situation like this?
  ( Kimberly can help in getting feedback from the emergency response community)

Note: Please limit Deep solutions discussion for this one. If you want to get into deep
solution discussion, change the subject likely.Just try to define the actual 
problem here and what IETF can do to help emergency response community? 

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