WALL TO WALL PEOPLE! In early March, IDRN’s booth at the MIAMI Disaster EXPO was busy, busy, busy from start to finish. We went OLD SCHOOL with paper surveys that people had to use this thing called a “pen” to write out their answers. It was crazy! And a hit. We got some great feedback....
2025 is over. 2025’s challenges –personally, regionally, and globally – have been real. Thank you for the support as we have been working through Miriam’s chemotherapy treatments this fall. Her chemo and following radiation treatments will hopefully wrap by late May. While this has impacted our lives, she is doing well so far. But in...
I’ve been doing a series of VISION & GROWTH posts within the IDRN Global Village visible to those registered with IDRN. We invite you to “Join Us” via this website to get access to all of those. However, this post is being made available to the public, too, via IDRN.info. Here’s a INVITATION LINK to...
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...
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...
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,...
“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...
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...
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...
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...