NetHope Updates on Hurricane Beryl Response

Photo credit: ABI imagery from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's GOES-16 Satellite

As Hurricane Beryl continues to affect communities across the Caribbean and beyond, NetHope is actively engaged in providing critical support to our Members and partners. This blog highlights the recent activities and efforts undertaken by NetHope in response to the hurricane, focusing on our internal work and partner coordination.

Swift Mobilization and Member Support

Within 24 hours of Hurricane Beryl making landfall, NetHope mobilized its resources and reached out to our members to offer immediate support. We hosted two Member coordination calls to address urgent needs and align our collective response strategies. These calls were crucial for understanding the situation on the ground and determining how best to support our members.

Ongoing Assistance to Restore Connectivity

We are providing ongoing support to a Member organization working to restore power and connectivity in rural areas of Jamaica. This is particularly important for conducting needs assessments and distributing aid in regions where reconstruction efforts are progressing slowly.

Resource Allocation

To further support our members, we have offered power and connectivity equipment prepositioned in our Panama warehouse. This equipment is essential for maintaining communication and operational capabilities during the emergency response.

Information Sharing and Resource Consolidation

NetHope has consolidated and shared valuable information resources with our members. These resources help track the impact of Hurricane Beryl and support the assessment of digital and technology needs in the affected regions.

Partner Coordination Efforts

Effective coordination with our partners is a key aspect of our response:

• Emergency Telecommunications Cluster Coordination: We have coordinated and shared information from the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster to ensure a unified response and efficient resource utilization.
• Technology Matchmaking: Based on identified needs, we facilitated connections between our Members and technology partners for:
  • Deployment of Satellite Terminals: This includes the potential use of Starlink terminals to re-establish connectivity.
  • Connectivity Expansion: Deployment of routers and access points to extend connectivity to distribution warehouses, community centers, schools, and other critical sites.
  • Data Sharing Solutions: Designing and implementing software solutions for data sharing and response coordination to streamline data collection and assessment across multiple locations.

Next Steps

NetHope remains committed to supporting our Members and partners through this challenging time. Our focus on coordination and resource allocation continues to drive our efforts as we work to address the evolving needs resulting from Hurricane Beryl.