Hastily formed network

A hastily formed network is a computer network formed in response to a crisis or disaster. Relief aid is usually provided by larger computer companies and volunteers. The ability to form multi-organizational networks rapidly is crucial to humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and large urgent projects.

This term was coined by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Naval Postgraduate School Cebrowski Institute, and came into public use after the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief effort, which necessitated the rapid building of new communications systems using modern wireless communications technology following the destruction of much of the existing computer infrastructure.

The term has also been used to describe the human command-and-control structures that are put in place in such disaster, which cut across cross normal agency boundaries and command and reporting structures.

Issues, Comments, and Caveats
Many international government, non-government humanitarian organizations, commercial firms and academic institutions recognize the need for HFN capability and are working on various promising approaches. The issue appears to be unifying effort across the organizational and cultural boundaries. The Strong Angel exercise series is one attempt to address this issue.