A thank you to RIM and BlackBerry - You helped us to manage a disaster

Nice.

This is not the first time BlackBerry has contributed to getting through a natural disaster. At times, when the lines have been jammed BlackBerry users were the only ones that could communicate via BBM to inform others of their location and let people know they were O.K.

Much less relevant on my example. I went camping for three days and it was just great to know that I had a spare battery for my Bold 9900. This was not important then but if we had a natural disaster in Oregon and power went down for a couple of days that would not stop us with spare batteries from keeping up communications.

Whatever people say, if I had only one phone to get me through a natural disaster (probably 7 days according to some estimates) it would be the one I'm holding right now. Bold 9900. Further, the Curve 9360 has FM radio built in. That could come in handy as well.

Every BlackBerry phone is built to last and rugged. For the things that matter to me BlackBerry is simply the best.

Excellent article Michelle. This just goes to show the true power of using a BlackBerry.
It's great to see this type of real world usage coverage especially on the given situation and how it has indeed helped.

My heart goes out to the brave souls and struggling families.

#teamBlackBerry ^DigitalHomeBoy

First... To say good job guys!

Edit: Not first

Cool story. Sounds like they have a bad situation well in hand.

Good job for all that you did. Although seems like any phone could have done what the BlackBerry did. Should be an article headlining the power of Facebook.

Great Job

Crackberrybrandon beat me to it. This article literally has nothing to do with blackberry or RIM, and everything to do with facebook, which while available even for dumbphones, happened to be utilized by a couple ppl thru a blackberry. Seems to me that a blackberry would hinder this experience as their cameras are garbage in lieu of the competition, and the bb facebook app offers no pages support.

Obviously, mad props need to go to Mark Z. for making facebook and whoever made twitter because they were a big help.

But for a fair bit of time I was running the group from my playbook or from my phone. While the mobile groups didn't work the browser one did a great job.

The phone lasted me while i was putting it under stress and the keyboard was a great help. The Playbook did a good job allowing me to show people locations, giving me a quick spot to upload information and take information. The phone helped me for when i needed to jump from FB to twitter really quickly or my playbook was running twitter while I got some access to a laptop.

In the end, I'm happy I had a BB. With a good battery and proven under tough conditions. BBM was also something I used as well.

OK, but what happens if you have an emergency need to game or watch youtube videos ? Where would Blackberry be then ?

Thankfully I have an iPhone so during an emergency I can continue to game and be fully entertained while all around me are running around for some unknown reason....

What happens when your "emergency" means you have no electricity to power your desire to game through a natural disaster....you my iphone friend would be known as dead weight.

It didn't take long for the haters to chime in.

Guys, it just so happens that OP used a Blackberry with a Playbook and got through this event.

This is not OP being ignorant to not giving credit where credit is due. He credited Facebook by mentioned how it was used in co-ordination to his overall efforts

He's thankful to RIM because he had his 9790 and Playbook to help get the results you see here.

Get over it.

During the earthquake here in Italy, near Modena, all phone lines were down.
The only way to communicate was through the BBM service

Thank you RIM

This is exactly the type of MARKETING RIMM should be using to capitalize upon.....! good job fellas..

As a resident of Thunder Bay, I can confirm with Mitchell as to just how important communication has been in these times.

Monday morning I awoke to find over 2 feet of water in the dugout under my house (I consider myself to be a one of the luckier victims of this flood as many people in the city were facing 3 or more feet of sewage in their homes). I immediately went to a local hardware store to buy the appropriate equipment for bailing out the water, when my iPhone (I'm still on an iPhone unfortunately) died after a few short calls to ask for advice on what I should buy. Luckily my girlfriend had her 9900 in hand that lasted through many text messages, BBMs and phone calls to concerned friends and family, and proved pivotal in fixing the problem at hand.

A big shout out to Mitchell, Ray and everyone in Thunder Bay who have come out to provide support in amazing numbers. The food, clothing and monetary donations have been astounding and I am beyond impressed. Although I was one of the lucky people that did not require outside support, I know plenty of people who did and this disaster has been made less devastating because of the generous nature of many people and organizations.

It is truly a proud day to be from TBay.

I was one of the contractors working in the Goderich tornado zone last year. In the first couple of days after the event, the town was flooded with emergency services and contractors of every type. Being a relatively remote town where the cell service is slim to start with, the cell towers were clogged and it was difficult to get calls or data through. My partner uses an iPhone and he could not get an email through for hours sometimes. My BB9900 however was right up to snuff and performed as it always does. I was able to get sh!t done.

Rockin' the 9900

Recently we had a mild earthquake scare in Chennai, India. It was not major but mild shocks. The next one hour was horrible as all phone lines were jammed. Everyone in the city were trying to make call just to tell their dear ones they are safe. I was out of town that day and was trying to call my wife and sister but couldn't get through. Then I tried BBM and it surprisingly it worked. They told me everything is fine and it is was a mild shock. BBM rocks and yet another reason why I love BB.

I posted this above but just in case people didn't read it here is how BlackBerry's saves lives.

The International Medical Corps will recognise Research In Motion (RIM) at its 2011 Annual Awards Celebration in Los Angeles, US, next week for the role of BlackBerry smartphones in assisting disaster-recovery efforts globally.
International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, non-profit organisation that is a first responder, providing medical assistance and health care to populations that have been impacted by natural disasters, conflict, and disease. Other International Medical Corps award recipients this year include its Darfur country director, Dr Solomon Kebede, long-time supporter Andrew Barth, Wells Fargo, and actress and global ambassador Sienna Miller.

"We are recognising Research In Motion with the Global Impact Award for the role of BlackBerry smartphones in our operations on the front lines," said Nancy A Aossey, International Medical Corps president and CEO. "I can tell you that our use of BlackBerry smartphones literally saves lives."

As a first responder following the earthquake in Haiti, International Medical Corps was on the ground within 22 hours treating patients and co-ordinating medical personnel, supplies and providing other relief.

Cellphones weren't working

"You just don't know what kind of a setting you're going to arrive in," said Dr Neil Joyce, who has worked with International Medical Corps in Angola, Bosnia, and Afghanistan, among many others, and helped lead its Emergency Response Team in Haiti. "As we arrived in Port-au-Prince, the cellphones were not working, but I was able to send messages with my BlackBerry smartphone."

As part of the disaster-relief efforts following the earthquake in Haiti, and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Dr Joyce arrived with a BlackBerry device in hand. He used it to co-ordinate the set up of mobile medical centres, organise physicians, communicate with the central hospital, and direct material and equipment to where it was needed. On several occasions in Haiti, the team used their BlackBerry smartphones to co-ordinate with pilots flying in relief supplies and help direct them to functioning airstrips.

BlackBerry made a huge difference

"In doing humanitarian aid, we need to make contact with relevant people who can help, like DART [Disaster Assistance Response Team], the military, the United Nations, the Red Cross, and other agencies, as well as the media," said Dr Joyce. "BlackBerry puts you in contact with the people on the ground and the people on the outside who can help. We really could not have done aid work in the modern setting without a BlackBerry smartphone. It made a huge difference."

Margaret Aguirre, director of global communications, was on International Medical Corps' first Emergency Response Team that arrived in Haiti hours after the earthquake, also with a BlackBerry smartphone in hand.

The device of need

"It is not only the device of choice, but the device of need," said Aguirre. "Doctors and nurses treating patients amid rubble and under trees were able to communicate with each other about patients needing immediate surgery and to co-ordinate the urgent transport of blood supplies. BlackBerry helps us communicate to get the materials to where they're needed and to find out where things are in the moment of an emergency."

In Haiti, Aguirre used her BlackBerry handset to take photos and send updates to headquarters, as well as post images and information to Facebook and Twitter.

"Being able to upload pictures to social media was really important," she said. "Our social media posts in the early days enabled military personnel to know the needs of various humanitarian groups on the ground and where to direct assets."

Aguirre said: "It's my personal lifeline, not just to be able to protect myself, but to know I can get help right away if I need it. I can communicate with my family and let them know I'm alright. I did that after the second earthquake hit Haiti to let them know I was okay."

I used to do some offroading. Of course I have a Toyota. In Australia they say "If you are going in to the bush and you wish to make it, take a vehicle. If you are going into the bush and you wish to survive, take a Toyota." This story reminds me of that wisdom. If you are going in to the world, take a mobile phone. If you are going in to the world and you wish to communicate, take a BlackBerry.

I work for a large government and BB is the device of choice for our emergency responders. BBM is a huge part of that choice.

Go figure. Just landed T Bay and pillowed at V Inn - and catching some of your news. Nice stuff. "Old" faithful (BBM) there to help. Great to have our hardware in times of trouble.

I also have to chime in on this.

I have had BBM come to the rescue twice in times of disaster and it's basically what has earned my loyalty to the phone.

I was at an outdoor music festival when the wind knocked the stage down. Most of my family was at the show sitting near the front row when it happened. We thought there was going to be a tornado. No one with a regular phone could call out, send a text message or get Facebook to work but I was able to communicate with my family via BBM and found out that everyone was okay and also could get the word back home to family members with Blackberrys that all was well. Users of other phones were asking me to relay messages for them.

Then, last year when the wildfires were going crazy in Alberta, again, texts didn't seem to go through. Towers were too busy for calls but I was able to keep tabs on my brother and my sister and their families as they evacuated Slave Lake with fire coming at the town from all sides using BBM.

When I hear people bash my phone and tell me that BBM is the only good thing my phone has going for it, I tell them as far as I'm concerned, it's the best thing offered out of any phone and I would never go without it. You don't fully appreciate how well it works until you are in a terrifying situation and it is your only tether to your loved ones.