Giving Compass' Take:

• Eric Boucher describes how open-source technology improved the response to Hurricanes Irma and Harvey and created a lasting resource for future disasters.

• How can philanthropy help facilitate the development and use of open-source technology? 

• Learn more about the need for philanthropy to engage in open source technology. 

How many lives could be saved if there was a way to vastly cut down inefficiency and through bureaucracy, by problem solving at a global scale? Could technology help us reach more individuals in need more meaningfully, substantially helping people affected by disasters – in less time?

The technology is already out there – but not enough people know about it.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma—the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean—made landfall; with widespread, “catastrophic” damage, disaster relief organizations were overwhelmed.

Within 24 hours, 100 people from Florida and around the country went to work compiling information on shelters making resources accessible to the public; after a week, nearly 700volunteer hackers were using tools and code created for Harvey relief to do everything from coordinating rescues to food supply.

Maybe the best part of it is that the resources that the team created are still out there – open and available to be put to good use again by anyone willing to work on solutions.

Read the full article about open-source tech by Eric Boucher at TriplePundit.