We are glad you have decided to be part of the IDRN Global Village. Did you notice that once you created your account and logged in, the question was, “So, how will this help?” I want to be very clear. On its own, this platform and network won’t solve your immediate local problems. The real...
Author: J Matt Wallace (J Matt Wallace)
Post
Vision+ Growth+ More Introduction
Inside the Global Village, I have added a new space for sharing short, single-topic messages intended to clarify and encourage.
Post
Talking Points
In preparation for a recent interview with regional media outlet, I asked a couple of different AI bots to help create talking points based on our IDRN white paper. There was some redundancy in the responses, plus editing was needed. However, if you’re still trying to figure out what IDRN is about, the following is...
Post
Can 0.1% Help IDRN Help Others? Yes.
Q: Is it acceptable that so many resources are plowed into disaster response and yet people don’t fully benefit from it due to simple lack of awareness among those actively trying to help? A: No. It is not acceptable. Q: Is it acceptable that well-intentioned workers, unaware of established best practices, invest their time and...
Post
Updates and Invitations
Join us & meet some new people! Lots of changes are in motion, and it’s time to ensure our intentions are understood and questions get answered. With that goal, please join us for some IDRN updates and Q&A between July 31 and August 3rd…. with additional dates/times added below. If you haven’t checked it out,...
Post
Ready, Fire, Aim: A Live Experiment in Disaster Response
“Shoot. Aim. Ready.” While it may sound backward, this approach is an incredibly effective way to learn and make progress. For much of my life, I’ve tackled new challenges knowing that the first attempt is less about perfection and more about discovery. This initial effort is never a waste; it provides invaluable experience and clarifies...
Post
Drone Training in Singapore
Friday August 22, 2025 & Saturday August 23, 2025 If you’re in Southeast Asia and are interested, make note that IDRN’s longtime friend Singaporean-based HAND (Humanitarian Assistance Network for Development) will be hosting special training for drone use in disaster response.
Post
Knowing It Will Flood Again
I recently came across a NOAA map that I had never seen before. It makes it clear that flooding is not a new issue. As I think about some of my friends from other countries, there are places that are practically defined by flooding. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a cornerstone of...
Post
Why Best Practices?
Over the past year or so, I have often used a fictional scenario to explain why and how the International Disaster Response Network will work to highlight best practices as we are reshaping IDRN to have new priorities. This fictional scenario starts with the idea of four or five different groups independently distributing food in...
Post
Actual Grassroots
People often struggle to feel or act like an owner if they don’t come up with the original idea or plan. This dynamic seems understandable and reasonable. Pointing this out is a small step towards encouraging everyone to intentionally set that aside temporarily for the benefit of all. How everyone perceives the call to register...