SLA's response to natural disasters.

Tsunami, flood, hurricane, or earthquake--what role can SLA play in the aftermath of a natural disaster? How can information professionals be of assistance?

Following the tsunami of December 26, 2004, SLA set out to answer these questions. Then-President Ethel Salonen created the Task Force on Natural Disasters to investigate ways in which information professionals could apply the skills and knowledge expressed in the SLA Competencies to assist in relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts. As a result, when Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast on August 29, SLA had a communications tool, IPANDAnet, in place to respond to the catastrophe. IPANDAnet (http://slablogger.typepad.com/ipandanet/) is an SLA Weblog that serves as a forum to exchange information between information professionals and those involved in relief and recovery efforts. Established by the task force after the tsunami, IPANDA (an acronym for Information Professionals Alliance on Natural Disasters and Accidents) is a network of volunteers who stand ready to provide information assistance to librarians and information professiona...

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