Information technology issues during and after Katrina and usefulness of the Internet: how we mobilized and utilized digital communications systems.

Even more than in previous disasters, Katrina has proven itself to be a testing ground for a plethora of new technologies. Although not all of these technologies did immediately save lives, in this regard a number of them exhibited considerable potential for the future, and hence there is a need to include them in future contingency plans. However, a need for change in the modes and patterns of technology deployment to maximize their leverage has also become very clear.