A charitable trust based in Galway is playing a lead role in the response to the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy, along the east coast of America.

Disaster Tech Lab, which has offices in Galway city was among the organisations to respond to the Haiti earthquake in 2010, and specializes in using digital technology to respond to emergency situations.

The organisation’s work in responding to Superstorm Sandy, which has devastated New York city and left millions without power or water supplies, is coordinated through so-called ‘Crisiscamps’.

These bring together experts, developers, and first responders to provide for humanitarian crisis management and disaster relief.

Tolday, Crisiscamp units are meeting in Galway, as well as in Boston, Washington and other US locations, to review their highly specialized response to Superstorm Sandy.

Evert Bopp, the founder of Disaster Tech Lab said the company has been involved in the response since Sandy hit the US shoreline earlier this week.

The company has developed an online mapping system which can pinpoint network outages as well as available public Wi-Fi locations.

Mr Bopp said that internet access has become a primary need for a lot of people trying to cope with their situation and find information on services and the welfare of relatives.

Volunteers attending today’s events in Galway and the US will work together via video-conference and Skype.