8/20, 1000 -
Sunday morning the Strong Angel III participants gathered at 10:00 for a pre-event briefing by Dr. Eric Rasmussen, Strong Angel III Director, Dr. Eric Frost, Regional Coordinator, Dave Warner, Shadow Lite Director and Nigel Snoad, Demonstration Design.

Eric R. talked about the world wide representation of technologists, service agencies and humanitarians that have gathered for this integrated disaster response demonstration. He emphasized that this event is not a scripted exercise but a Jazz like impromptu gathering of people prepared to adventure beyond their normal limits and explore the boundaries of what can be accomplished when mere mortals simply agree to collaborate in a honest and sincere manner. Above all, when frustration builds and tempers get short – Keep Smiling.

The Task – To stand up a command and control center in a cold dark site (no power, no communications, no cell phones) and complete the 49 tasks that were developed based on lessons learned in previous Strong Angels and recent events such as Banda Ache tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.

Nigel talked about the rhythm of the week. Monday – Resurrection, Tuesday – Assessment, Wednesday – Interaction, Thursday Media Day, Friday Disengagement. He went on to outline the daily events starting with an 0800 morning briefing. Then off to work taking time out for a seminar or two, the Observer forum and an 1800 warp up with the team leads.

Well that is the plan. – We will see what unfolds, Surely it will be an adventure, Keep Smiling