For More Information, Please Contact:

William Fisher
Business Manager
Internet Direct, Inc.
Phone #: (602) 222-2888
E-Mail: bilfish@beer.com

INTERNET COMMUNITY MOBILIZES TO DISSEMINATE DISASTER INFORMATION

Arizona-based Firm Provides Centralized Disaster Information Server.

Live discussions of the disaster have been going on around the clock since word of the explosion first hit the Internet. One Internet user likened this distribution of emergency information in and out of the disaster stricken area to the efforts of amateur radio HAM operators in past disasters, such as the California earthquakes.

Similar efforts to provide important information were made following the recent earthquake in Kobe, Japan, but the disorganized nature of the Internet has made this valuable information hard for individuals to locate. Internet Direct, Inc., an Internet Access Provider with Corporate offices in Arizona, has dedicated its resources to making disaster information available to all of the millions of Internet users around the world from one centralized location.

This new service, the Internet Disaster Information Network (IDIN) which is also being referred to as the DisasterNet, acts as a central clearinghouse and index for worldwide disaster-related information. The IDIN allows Internet users to access complete, detailed information from a single address on the World Wide Web.

"We wanted to create a way for people to easily access the available information surrounding events such as the recent bombing," said Mike March, President of Internet Direct. "We have dedicated a server and staff to centralizing this information. Now, instead of spending 12 frustrating hours trying to find information in an emergency, the click of a button is all that it takes for people to have complete access to helpful and necessary information."

Late Wednesday afternoon, Internet Direct made a request to InterNIC Registration Services in Herndon, Virginia, the organization controlling address registration for the global Internet, to obtain the name www.disaster.net for use as a publicly accessible, civic information server. At approximately 2.00am Thursday morning, the InterNIC granted this unusual request.

"Normally, it takes about four weeks to get registration approved. We felt this request was critical enough to approve the registration immediately," said Jean Gallagher of InterNIC Registration Services.

Since the granting of the request, the technical and design staffs have worked around the clock to create an entire World Wide Web site in under 24 hours. "Usually, we will work on a site for two to three weeks before releasing it to the public. In this case, the technical staff put together a server in about four hours, and our design team worked around the clock to develop the content for the IDIN site," said Jason Ayers, Head of Graphic Design for Internet Direct. "Everyone here is enthusiastic to be working to help create this public site for everyone. They have all volunteered their time and expertise to assist with IDIN."

Information that has already been made available includes the composite photo of bombing suspects released by the FBI, a list of hospitalized survivors and their locations, phone numbers for Oklahoma City hospitals and relief organizations and addresses for charities accepting donations, and hundreds of other photographs, articles, eye-witness accounts and progress updates.

Early this afternoon the Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross contacted our offices to obtain the most current Oklahoma bombing victims list. We provided this list courtesy of the FBI, who provided this directly to the Internet Direct offices for public distribution.

"We plan to continue and fully maintain the Internet Disaster Information Network site permanently," guaranteed William Fisher, Business Manager of Internet Direct, Inc. "Unfortunately, this won't be the last time people need information quickly in times of great need. Internet Direct and the IDIN will be there to provide stability and support for people whenever and wherever a disaster may happen. This is a fantastic opportunity for all of us (at Internet Direct) to give back to the Internet community that is our business."

The www.disaster.net WEB site has received over 7,000 queries from around the world in its first 24 hours of operation. "Right now, the requests are increasing by about twenty-five per cent each hour. We expect to be receiving 8,000 to 10,000 requests an hour by tomorrow morning, as the information about the existence of the IDIN becomes available," reported Matthew Grossman, head of Operations for this effort and a lead designer for Internet Direct.

For more information about the Internet Disaster Information Network, please access the following WWW site, or e-mail info@disaster.net

To access the Internet Disaster Information Network, point your World Wide Web browser (Netscape, Mosaic, Lynx, Cello, AirMosaic, Prodigy Web Browser, etc.) at http://www.disaster.net