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Over the last 10 years, IBM has responded to more than 70 natural disasters and provided millions of dollars for its disaster-relief experts to participate in cross-border volunteer opportunities.

The company deploys employees in different “layers.” IBM staff often volunteer virtually by leveraging free and open source software to provide remote support for disaster relief efforts. One such programme, Sahana, was developed in Sri Lanka and will be used to identify missing persons and manage volunteers, refugee camps, and donations. IBM also has a group of people with specific technical expertise in relief efforts who are deployed across borders to disaster areas. Further, local IBM employees lend themselves to relief efforts in their own communities.