ESRI is the first of what we assume will be many AEC and GIS software companies offering support services to agencies dealing with the devastation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
ESRI says government agencies and private entities can contact ESRI for on-site technical support, temporary key codes, and other assistance. This support is available to any organization, regardless of its GIS platform.
ESRI has opened a special web page at www.esri.com/hurricanehelp, and says agencies in need of GIS assistance should visit. This Web site also contains useful information such as hurricane advisories and related information, hurricane maps and images, and maps for journalists. ESRI business partners or corporate alliances that would like to offer software, hardware, services, or imagery should contact Brenda Martinez (b_martinez@esri.com) to coordinate these efforts.
“The impact of Hurricane Katrina is devastating, destroying property and infrastructure and leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced or without power and other necessary services,” says Jack Dangermond, president of ESRI. “Mapping and GIS are vital to emergency response and recovery. ESRI is ready to assist in these efforts. We are working hard to provide all types of GIS support for disaster response and relief agencies in their very important work.”
Any short-term revenue shortfall suffered by technology companies in our industry as a result of helping during this time of crisis will come back to them later, as rebuilding efforts begin. As one AEC software industry veteran said to me yesterday, “I can guarantee you that there will be people walking around certain AEC software firms rubbing their hands at the prospect of increased revenues here soon… [there is] glee when even a small earthquake happens.”
--RSN
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