To be most productive, such a dialogue would perhaps best be conducted face to face in relatively small groups of experts. But there should be provisions for involving the wider body of stakeholders, perhaps via the Internet, such that tentative arrangements would be subject to comment and amendment prior to general adoption. One function of this dialogue could be to establish a catalogue of sites, accessible via a web page, to guide users to information that is both reliable and current. In establishing a GDIN process, we should recognize that there will be potential users of disaster information who may not be in a position to have ready access to the Internet or who may want assistance in securing relevant, reliable information from it. GDIN should thus make allowance for facilitators, perhaps existing or to be created regional disaster preparedness centers, that would provide such assistance on a voluntary basis, either directing users to known reliable sources of information or accessing the information on behalf of the user and formatting it to be readily useable on an urgent basis.
Natural disasters are a global problem.
We cannot control them, but we can reduce the damage they do by working together to share information in a timely, integrated, and coherent manner.