Secret Weapon Labs

I’m sure many fellow computer designers, users, programmers, FileMakers, DBA, etc. looked at the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and wondered how, beyond writing a check to the Red Cross (which isn’t a bad thing), could be more helpful. Habitat For Humanity is one thing that hits the target well, but quite frankly, it’s not enough. What I mean is that parlaying strengths rather than numbers could prove to be more useful e.g. Oprah could build a lot more positive energy by doing what she does rather than by contributing by herself alone in building a home with Habitat. Quite admirably, she uses her strengths.

Until recently, beyond donating relief money, articulating my own strengths to help those in need would be difficult. But I’m sure many folks, like myself, thought that even a slight wiggling of the magic FileMaker finger would help organize the conundrum of communication that was the post-Katrina state of affairs. We are not alone. And in a stroke of inspired genius, Charles Durrwachter, InfoCenter Foundation founder and a Ponchatoula, Louisiana, resident knew he could help as well. He walked into a radio station that was the frantic hub of overlapping emergency information. Armed with a Powerbook and his ingenuity, he came up with FileMaker Brilliance™. Sure, why not, I should trademark it!

As per FileMakerAdvisor.com:

There was no phone service — landline or cell — within the impact area, so the radio was a key source of information for residents. Charles prepared a FileMaker Pro application, InfoCenter.fp7, to help disc jockeys communicate public service and emergency announcements, and report missing persons. He set it up and had it running within two hours. The database helped coordinate about 2,000 calls per day. The calls were from federal, state, parish, and local officials with important announcements, and from listeners with reports of missing persons, and questions about what to do and how to help.

First off, Charles deserves enormous kudos for bringing something all of us would likely do with ease and ability, at a time when people desperately needed it most. Secondly, and I hilight it above, FileMaker’s ability to become so critical within 2 hours speaks volumes about why we use it and why so many are passionate about it.

“Katrina, Rita, Stan, Wilma, Pakistan’s earthquake, Indonesia’s Tsunami, Europe’s floods, and other catastrophic events in 2005 are grim reminders of how complacent people can be about preparing for real emergencies of these magnitudes. Even in today’s world of mass communication, everybody has lessons to learn about how to best respond and how vital real-time information can be.” [FileMakerAdvisor.com]. Charles has subsequently set up the InfoCenter Foundation with the help of FileMaker Inc., WorldSync, and Point In Space hosting - all of whom deserve notice for their willingness to help.

If you visit the InfoCenter website at InfoCntr.net, you can help as well. I’ve submitted my own offer, maybe it’s time to do your own.