Comments on: Hurricane Katrina Emergency Identification

By: bikes Australia

bikes Australia — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:50:19 +0000

Good read friend reading

By: Neville

Neville — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 17:06:00 +0000

Ok,

I'm guessing I didn't quite articulate some details properly.

1.) There are different uses for ID cards including medical info, emergency contact info, kid cards, identifying who was originally at the shelter (for extended aid purposes) and many more. We had no intention of these ID's replacing drivers licenses.

2.) These cards are 100% legal, just not official. This is why we had banks and the officials endorse them for legitimacy.

3.) This wasn't some big scheme to make money or start a company, this was just a unique way of volunteering. There are already too many volunteers in Austin offering their time.

4.) These ID's follow the concept of an AAA card. Having an account with them means you belong to their group. As people leave the convention center for other accommodations, they are still entitled to a certain amount of aid and donated supplies. Previously, the paper wristband was the only method of identifying who those people are. This was an attempt to make it a bit more official and secure.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 16:30:00 +0000

Interesting blog--I've been reading for a few months, but this is my first post.

I like that it literally reintroduces to evacuees a sense of identity after something this devastating. As I've worked extensively in emergency response (under the Red Cross and Office of Emergency Management), I can say that an actual ID card would be something many would value enormously.

That said, I'm surprised that anyone outside of shelter security would accept the IDs (since the opportunity for fraudulent use is high). But I could see it as a tool to identify people as they enter and leave the shelter.

One note: as you document this project, please do not take any pictures of evacuees without their explicit consent.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 16:02:00 +0000

I would agree that the ID’s need to be endorsed by someone but it appears from the post that they are making them through the city. What you guys might want to do is do child id cards. It it not as important but would let them locate a child if they are lost. You got to think they are even more lost now being in a city so far away from home.

By: Jay's Financial Blog

Jay's Financial Blog — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 12:49:00 +0000

So, this is the BIG idea/new business that we have all been waiting for? Yikes Nev! As much as I would like to say that the idea is awesome — it isn’t…unless your goal is to outsorce card making for local businesses who need employee security cards — like many others have said….your ID cards are are not legal Ids..

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 03:37:00 +0000

Interesting….did you meet your 9/9 goal?

By: nickel

nickel — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 03:28:00 +0000

To one of the anonymous posters above… I’m perfectly aware that Katrina victims lost everything, including their paperwork. This doesn’t make the IDs a more workable idea, though. In fact, it makes it even harder, as it’s all the more difficult to for people to prove who they are. You can’t just take them at their word if you hope for these IDs to be taken seriously.

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 01:40:00 +0000

Unless you are endorsed by a government agency, you cannot do this. It is ILLEGAL.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 22:34:00 +0000

your a complete retard.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 21:09:00 +0000

That's pretty cool what you're doing for the Katrina victims.

I never thought ID cards would be a problem until you mentioned it. I'm guessing the previous commentors don't realize that some people have nothing left in their name. They have no identity except a paper wristband. Makes sense.

I wonder how come the DPS or DMW hasn't reacted to this problem?

Cool blog by the way.