One of the few things left intact after Hurricane Katrina devastated
New Orleans was the wireless mesh network used
in the downtown area by local police to support communications and respond to crime scenes much quicker.
That was what the network was primarily used for before Katrina. Now, the network is the only public communications system in New Orleans, and it is being used by businesses and government agencies and will be used as the foundation for the city's pending free WiFi service for residents.
At this point, with all the infrastructure for traditional phone service totally destroyed by the storm, and rebuilding not an option for the forseeable future, this is all New Orleans has, and it is making the best of the situation. Who knows? The city could very well set a new standard of wireless communications because of the situation it finds itself in.
