Inviting people to register with IDRN does not or should not require you to “sell” its value to your family, friends, or peers. Answering basic questions or encouraging others to check out our short introduction video is appropriate, so please do that. However, thinking about the people you know, I recommend that you only invite people who you would be surprised if they don’t register once they learn about IDRN. This type of network will have a variety of people and skills in it. That is already true. And yet, a common trait will likely be an underlying appreciation for...
Vision+Growth+More #0003
As we use this IDRN Global Village platform, please remember that first steps rarely looks like the final destination. It’s one thing to describe a vision, but it’s another to build it. Now that the Global Village is live, we can all see what works and what needs improving. To be clear, this platform is not the entire network we envision—it’s just one of the most visible pieces, and it has only just begun. You will find things that are unclear or confusing. That’s to be expected. Our goal now is to move forward together. So please, try out the...
Vision+Growth+More #0002
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 solutions don’t come from a website or a network name. They come from people. People like you, working with others in your own community. Think of IDRN as a bridge. It’s a tool designed to help you connect with the key partners and volunteers you...
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.
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal
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 worth checking out. IDRN Talking Points Connecting the Helpers in a Crisis Right now, there are thousands of amazing groups and individuals ready to help when a disaster strikes, from big names like the Red Cross to our own local Community Emergency Response Teams. The...
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal / Funding / Spotlight
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 resources in ways that are not as effective as they could be? A: No. That’s just more wasted, aggravated time. It is not acceptable. Together We Can Improve This! The International Disaster Response Network (IDRN) cannot 100% “fix” these problems, but IDRN seeks to make...
Commentary / Events / Exec Dir Journal / External Links / Spotlight
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, IDRN has a newly-updated white paper that also provides much more detail than has been available previously. These Q&A sessions can help address questions about this document as well. Link to the White Paper Latest options added: #005 August 6 @ 11:00am Central...
Commentary / Events / Exec Dir Journal
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 what truly matters for a more focused, effective second attempt. This week, we are putting that philosophy into practice… again. What We’re Doing (July 21-23) From Monday to Wednesday this week, we are launching a proof-of-concept for the IDRN Correspondent Program. This experiment is already...
Events / Spotlight
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.
Commentary / Exec Dir Journal
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 the United States’ scientific endeavors, employs a dedicated workforce of approximately 12,000 individuals. NOAA’s diverse responsibilities are carried out by its major line offices: the National Weather Service, the National Ocean Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service,...