People hit by storms and other disasters need more than food, clothes or shelter in the days following the unfortunate event. They also need access to working internet or cellular networks to find family and friends who may be missing or to get in touch with people who might be worried sick about them as wel as contact emergency services if possible.
Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hopes to supply the need for tech-savvy volunteers who can help out in those situations.
Sources say it has launched the Tech Corps program and enlisted the help of several big-name companies in the industry, including Cisco Systems, Google, Intel and Microsoft.
Sources say these companies will not only provide volunteers with the skills to carry out tasks the Tech Corps needs to do, but also train others willing to help out.
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According to FEMA, the Tech Corps will be in charge of setting up temporary networks to bring back internet connectivity and enable telephone and radio communications in disaster areas.
According to reports, some of the program partners have previous experience helping out in times of need, such as after the earthquakes in Nepal and Haiti, as well as during Hurricane Sandy.
It s hoped that this initiative enables them to organize bigger disaster response operations.
