ITDRC and Merit Team Up to Help Michigan Communities

Two technology-focused nonprofits have formed a partnership to strengthen disaster preparedness in Michigan. The collaboration between the Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC) and Merit Network aims to help communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters more effectively.

Michigan has faced repeated flooding challenges, with recent events demonstrating the state’s vulnerability. Heavy rains combined with elevated water levels have caused significant damage — a recent disaster resulted in over 3,000 damaged structures in Wayne County alone, forcing firefighters to conduct water rescues.

Merit Network previously established the Michigan Community Assistance Pact (MCAP) to coordinate resources among educational and nonprofit organizations. David Dennis of Merit explained the value of advance planning: “Making these community connections in advance provides some peace-of-mind to the IT leaders within our state.”

ITDRC brings national-scale capabilities to the partnership. Since 2009, the organization has maintained a network of 1,700+ technical volunteers ready to deploy anywhere in the United States within 24 hours of a disaster request.

The combined effort focuses on protecting “anchor institutions” — hospitals, libraries, and schools — ensuring these essential community resources maintain operational capability during emergencies. ITDRC co-founder Joe Hillis emphasized that preparation matters most: “The difference in the outcome is often in the preparation.”