CRISIS & COMMUNICATIONS
When Phones Failed, New Technology Filled the Void (WP)
Could E911 have helped in disaster? (CNET)
RESPONSES IN COMMUNICATIONS
Anti-Attack Feds Push Carnivore (Wired)
Web Vents Open on U.S. Muslims (Wired)
Rush to Adjust Entertainment in the Light of Some Real Events (NYT)
Microsoft Donating Money to Attack Relief (Wired)
United Way and The New York Community Trust Establish Sept 11th Fund (UWEWH)
CRISIS & COMMUNICATIONS
WHEN PHONES FAILED, NEW TECHNOLOGY FILLED THE VOID
Issue: Internet
As conventional and cellular telephone networks became overloaded with
calls, people turned to pagers, wireless e-mail devices and two-way radio
systems to communicate. Motient Corp. of Reston, VA reconfigured several
hundred satellite phones for the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency to enable emergency workers to communicate over its
proprietary network, said Walter V. Purnell Jr., Motient's president and
chief executive. Kimberly Kuo, vice president of communications at the
Washington-based Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, relied
on a different technology: e-mail through her BlackBerry wireless device. "I
had my BlackBerry in one hand and, literally, my cell phone on one ear all
day long," Kuo said. "Literally, it was just a blessing for me to have those
devices."
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Webb & Noguchi]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/washtech/techthursday/columns/digit...
pital/A21517-2001Sep12.html
(requires registration)
COULD E911 HAVE HELPED IN DISASTER?
Issue: Wireless Infrastructure
The Tuesday attacks are generating fresh debate about the system used to
pinpoint a cell phone user's location that wireless carriers are supposed to
begin using Oct. 1. The system, called Enhanced 911, or E911, was proposed
in 1996. In 1998, carriers were supposed to have the first phase in place,
which would help police learn a cell phone caller's phone number and the
nearest cell site. That was for an area anywhere within 1 to 5 miles. But
the next phase would locate a cell phone caller within 100 yards. Also this
week, the National Emergency Number Association released a report claiming
that nearly half of all 911 calls made in metropolitan areas are from cell
phones, yet there isn't a police station in the nation that has the
technology needed to pinpoint the caller's location. Foreseeably, the Oct. 1
deadline will pass with nine of the nation's major wireless
telecommunications carriers, including Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless and
Cingular Wireless, expected to ask the Federal Communications Commission for
a delay. In addition, just 10 percent of the police stations in the nation
are ready to implement the first phase of the system, according to various
sources. But some point out, including Travis Larsen, a spokesman for the
Cellular Telephone and Internet Association, and Herschel Shosteck of
wireless industry group The Shosteck Group, say an E911 system would make
little difference in locating buried survivors. "Sadly, with this
experience, you would need location technology capable of being able to
pinpoint within 1 yard," Larsen said.
[SOURCE: CNET News.com, AUTHOR: Ben Charny]
(http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1004-200-7139433.html?tag=dd.ne.dht.nl-sty.0)
RESPONSES IN COMMUNICATIONS
ANTI-ATTACK FEDS PUSH CARNIVORE
Issue: Federal Response
Reportedly, Federal police are increasing Internet surveillance after
Tuesday's deadly attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Hours
after the DC and NY attacks, FBI agents began to visit Web-based, e-mail
firms and network providers, according to engineers at those companies who
spoke on condition of anonymity. An administrator at one major network
service provider said that FBI agents showed up at his workplace on Tuesday
"with a couple of Carnivores, requesting permission to place them in our
core, along with offers to actually pay for circuits and costs. "The person
would not say for publication what the response was but, "a lot of people"
at other firms were quietly going along with the FBI's request. "I know that
they are getting a lot of 'OKs' because they made it a point to mention that
they would only be covering our core for a few days, while their 'main boxes
were being set up at the Tier 1 carriers' -- scary," the engineer said. The
FBI's Carnivore system, which has been renamed DCS1000, is a specially
configured Windows computer designed to sit on an Internet provider's
network and monitor electronic communications.
[SOURCE: Wired News, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh]
(http://wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,46747,00.html)
WEB VENTS OPEN ON U.S. MUSLIMS
Issue: Bigotry and the Internet
Across the Internet, in chatrooms and Website postings, anti-Arab hate
speech on the Internet cranked to full blast Wednesday. Some U.S. Muslims
reported rampant harassment on- and offline. Before the U.S. government even
named a suspect for the attacks and despite numerous cautions to avoid
blaming any group without evidence, anti-Muslim speech was nearing a fever
pitch Wednesday. Now with evidence pointing to the potential involvement of
an Arab country, America's estimated 7 million Muslims are bracing for the
backlash. "We've got reports from all over the country," said Joshua Salaam,
the Civil Rights coordinator for the Council on American Islamic Relations,
a nonprofit group dedicated to promoting a positive image of Muslims in
America. "People are reporting stuff to us from chat rooms that is
absolutely hateful. Our own website has been bombarded with death threats."
Students at the University of Texas in Austin wearing Islamic garb
complained that their bags were searched by university police before they
were admitted to classrooms, and that they were told to leave the student
union because of "anti-Muslim sentiment," Salaam said.
[SOURCE: Wired, AUTHOR: Julia Scheere]
(http://wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,46778,00.html)
Rush to Adjust Entertainment in the Light of Some Real Events (NYT)
RUSH TO ADJUST ENTERTAINMENT IN THE LIGHT OF SOME REAL EVENTS
Issue: Hollywood's Reaction
Various studios have announced plans to scrap or delay film and television
projects that made used terrorism as a plot vehicle. Advertisers said they
intended to review their ad campaigns, especially those that may offend
viewers with a cheerful huckstering tone. Paul Cappelli, president at the Ad
Store agency in New York, said: "You just can't work the same way. With
other disasters or misfortunes, you can often figure out a way around. This
is not that". Newsmagazines tend to be adding, rather than subtracting. Both
Time, part of AOL Time Warner, and Newsweek, a division of the Washington
Post Company (news/quote), will publish special issues today. Neither issue
includes advertising. James Kelly, editor in chief of Time, said the
magazine planned to print eight million copies. The editor in chief of
Newsweek, Mark Whitaker, said the magazine would print two million copies.
U.S. News & World Report will publish a special issue, also without
advertising, on Friday. All three magazines will also publish on their
regular schedule next week.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Carter & Lyman]
(http://www.nyt.com/2001/09/13/business/media/13MEDI.html)
MICROSOFT DONATING MONEY TO ATTACK RELIEF
Issue: Industry Response
Microsoft said on Thursday it is giving $5 million in cash and $5 million in
software and services to help relief groups and government agencies deal
with the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The
cash would go to the September 11 Fund set up by the United Way of New York
and The New York Community Trust, Microsoft President Rick Belluzzo told
employees in a memo made available to Reuters. {SEE BELOW FOR FUND
INFORMATION} Microsoft is also encouraging its 44,000 employees to make
personal donations, for which the software giant would make matching
donations of up to $12,000 per year, Belluzzo said.
[SOURCE: Wired, AUTHOR: Reuters Wire]
(http://www.wired.com/news/reuters/story?story_id=20010913RTTECH-MICROSOFT-D
C.htmlt)
SEE ALSO:
Scam artists capitalize on tragedy
SCAM ARTISTS CAPITALIZE ON TRAGEDY
[SOURCE: MSNBC.com, AUTHOR: Bob Sullivan]
(http://msnbc.com/news/628230_asp.htm)
UNITED WAY AND THE NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST ESTABLISH SEPT 11th FUND
Issue: Nonprofit Responses
From the press release:
The September 11th Fund has been established to help the victims of the
Tuesday, September 11th terrorist attacks in New York, Washington DC and
other affected communities. The purpose of the fund is to mobilize financial
resources to respond to the pressing needs of the victims, their families
and all those who were affected by this tragedy. The September 11th Fund was
created by United Way and The New York Community Trust to receive financial
donations from Americans across the country. Funds will be administered by
the United Way and the Community Trust, who will form a distribution
committee to ensure that resources are deployed effectively in New York and
other cities affected by these tragic events. This effort is supported by
the Council on Foundations. The fund will provide immediate support to
established emergency assistance agencies, such as the American Red Cross.
It will also bring together the resources of other nonprofit health and
human service agencies. Anyone wishing to contribute to The September 11th
Fund may send their financial donations care of the United Way, September
11th Fund, 2 Park Avenue,. New York, New York, 10016. Donors may specify the
community where they would like their contributions to help (New York City,
Washington DC or other affected areas). Checks should be made payable to
"United Way". Contributions are also being accepted on the United Way of New
York City's web site at www.uwnyc.org and on the United Way of Essex and
West Hudson web site at www.uwewh.org.
United Way of Essex and West Hudson (973) 624-8300.
[SOURCE: United Way of West Essex-Hudson, CONTACT: Martha Bahamon]
(https://www.uwnyc.com/epledge/sept11.cfm)
More Information
AMERICAN RED CROSS - LOCAL
2 Gardner Road at Route 46 West
Fairfield, NJ 07003
Phone: 973-575-0880
Fax: 973-575-8462
AMERICAN RED CROSS - NATIONAL
1-800-HELPNOW OR 1-800-GIVELIFE
AMERICAN RED CROSS - BRUNSHWICK: 732-418-0800
AMERICAN RED CROSS - ANNEX ( at ) ST. JAMES HOSPTIAL: 973-274-0261
CATHOLIC CHARITIES : (703) 549-1390
CHRISTIAN DISASTER RESPONSE: 877-549-1390
CHURCH WORLD SERVICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM: 1-212-870-3151
SALVATION ARMY
45 Central Avenue
Newark, NJ
973-623-5959
973-623-5737
BLOOD DONATIONS:
BLOOD CENTER OF NEW JERSEY FOR NORTH JERSEY - 1-800-BLOODNJ OR WEBSITE:
WWW.BLOODNJ.ORG
FOR A LIST OF HOSPTIAL IN NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY: 1-800-933-2566 OR WEBSITE:
WWW.NYBLOODCENTER.ORG
EAST ORANGE: NORTH JERSEY BLOOD CENTER - 45 S. GOVE ST.: 973-676-4700
EDISON: JFK MEDICAL CENTER BLOOD BANK, JFK CONFERENCE CENTER, 80 JAMES ST.
9a.m. to 9p.m., 732-321-7683
FORT DIX: RED CROSS OF FORT DIX: 609-562-2258
HOWELL: BLOOD CENTER OF CENTRAL JERSEY, 4068 US HIGHWAY 9, 732-901-0720
LIVINGSTON: ST. BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER, 94 OLD SHORT HILLS ROAD, 9A.M. TO
9P.M., 973-322-5479 OR 5464 OR 2425 OR 5499
NEW BRUNSWICK: NY BLOOD ENTER, 167 NEW STREET, 1-800-933-2566
PARAMUS: BLOOD CENTER - BERGEN COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER, 970 LINWOOD AVE.
WEST, 1-800-444-3900
PARIPPANY: BLOOD CENTER OF NJ, 1259 ROUTE 46 E., 973-335-6162
PATERSON: RED CROSS OF PASSAIC COUNTY, 100 HAMILTON PLAZA , SUITE 1215:
973-977-9595; ST. JOSEPH'S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, 703 MAIN STREET,
973-754-2000
PLAINFIELD: TRI-COUNTY RED CROSS, 332 W. FRONT STREET, 908-668-2280
PLEASANTVILLE: AMERICAN RED CORSS PLEASANTVILLE COMMUNITY DONOR CENTER, 850
NORTH FRANKLIN AVE., 609-497-4353, 8AM TO 8PM
SHREWSBURN: CENTERAL JERSEY BLOOD CENTER, 494 SYCAMORE AVE, 732-842-5750
TINTON FALLS: RED CROSS NEW JERSEY, 1540 W. PARK AVENUE, 732-493-9100
TRENTON: AMERICAN RED CROSS COMMUNITY DONOR CENTER, MERCER MEDICAL CENTER,
447 BELLEVUE AVENUE, 1-800-GIVELIFE
WEST ORANGE: BLOOD CENTER OF NJ, 401 PLEASANT VALLEY WAY, 973-669-9898, 7AM
TO 9PM
WESTFIELD: AMERICAN RED CROSS, WESTFIELD-MOUNTAINSIDE CHAPTER, 321 ELM ST.
1-908-232-7090
MANHATTAN: NEW YORK BLOOD CENTER, 10 E. 67TH STREET, FOR MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT NEW YORK BLOOD CENER, 1-800 933-2566
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS: (Please - Only Call For Information About FAMILY
MEMBERS)
New York City: 212-560-2730
St. Vincent's Hospital: 212-604-7285
Bellevue Hospital: 212-562-7696
American Airlines: 1-800-245-0999
United Airlines: 1-800-932-8555
AON Corporation- (Business operating inside WTC): 203-863-6380
Morgan Stanley Information Line:
888-883-4391
Cantor Fitzgerald:
212-704-8188
Aon Employees and Tower 2:
866-256-4154
Employees of Blue Cross/Blue Shield offices at World Trade Center are asked
to call 866-761-8265 to verify that they are OK.
Deloitte & Touche Business Continuity Hotline 888-243-7666. This is for
employees to phone in their whereabouts.
Employees of Carr Futures at One World Trade are asked to call 312-762-1227
to verify their whereabouts.
For information on employees who worked in the World Trade Center from
floors 80 to 105, contact the Aon Corporation at 203-863-4391.
For information on employees of Morgan Stanley located at 2 World Trade
contact 888-883-4391.
For information concerning Marsh & McLennan Employees, call their hot line
at 212/345-6000.
For information concerning Euro Brokers Employees, call their hot line at
212-317-1000.
Hotline for Information on Family members at the Pentagon: 1-800-331-0075
Internet use for Information on family member at the Pentagon:
www.responcecare.com
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