In 10 years, IEEE MOVE has grown from a single truck to a worldwide movement, training over 1,000 volunteers who have collectively donated more than 100,000 hours.

The American Red Cross first called IEEE MOVE into action in July 2016 to respond to historic floods in West Virginia. In 10 years, MOVE has responded to 43 natural disasters and trained more than 1,000 volunteers.

IEEE MOVE volunteer Brian Greene readies the satellite equipment. In 2018, IEEE MOVE responded to Hurricanes Florence and Michael, deploying for 40 consecutive days. “IEEE MOVE volunteers work long days, with few conveniences, but it is extremely rewarding,” said IEEE MOVE Operations Lead Grayson Randall.

Melody Richardson, leader of IEEE STEM on the MOVE. When IEEE MOVE trucks aren’t deployed, volunteers travel to public events, schools and IEEE conferences to educate the public about the impact of technology.

IEEE MOVE Puerto Rico executed an activity at the American Red Cross Puerto Rico Chapter headquarters to configure and test newly arrived equipment.

Flood damage from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina in 2024. A typical deployment might have two IEEE volunteers on the ground. They are supported by 10 to 20 more with expertise in weather monitoring, amateur shortwave radio, satellite networking and a MOVE truck driver.

From left to right: 2025 IEEE President Kathleen Kramer, 2026 IEEE President Mary Ellen Randall and 2024 IEEE President Tom Coughlin. MOVE India, established in 2021, launched its first truck in July 2025. The vehicle is designed to bring educational resources to communities in India and, in the future, provide communication and technology support to relief workers during emergencies.

IEEE MOVE India volunteers donating solar lanterns and mobile charges to Wayanad landslide victims.

MOVE volunteer Steve Kurtzman sets up internet access, laptops and printers for a shelter in El Cajon, CA after New Year’s Day flooding in 2026. Volunteers undergo a significant amount of training that includes what to expect during a disaster, how to operate the equipment, government motor vehicle regulations, radio frequency restrictions and more.

10 Years of Impact: How IEEE MOVE Has Delivered Relief to over 1 Million People

March 17, 2026

When disasters strike, the infrastructure we take for granted disappears. Cell towers go dark. The electricity grid goes down, creating life-threatening risks for survivors and blind spots for first responders.

That’s where IEEE MOVE can help. Volunteers from this global disaster response initiative have provided communications and power support in the immediate aftermath of floods, hurricanes and wildfires. This response is done in collaboration with the American Red Cross.

This year, IEEE MOVE is marking 10 years of impact on its two-fold mission of mobile communication support and STEM outreach. In the last decade, it has helped over one million survivors and first responders stay connected and access the help they need, including charging phones and more. Simultaneously, its volunteers conduct educational outreach that reaches 50,000 people each year at schools, universities and public events.

Connecting in Crisis

When disaster strikes, emergency management teams need communications and electricity to coordinate their response because the software they use is typically cloud-based.

“The ability to communicate in a disaster is more important than ever,” said Grayson Randall, the IEEE MOVE operations lead and chair of IEEE’s Humanitarian Technologies Board. “In fact, the need seems to be increasing as society becomes more reliant on real-time communications.”

From Shared Vision to Global Response

The initiative was conceived by 2026 IEEE President Mary Ellen Randall. In the wake of disasters like Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Katrina, she realized that IEEE members had valuable skills that could accelerate disaster recovery.

“We developed MOVE to engage IEEE members in a meaningful way, to use their talents to help people when they are most vulnerable,” Mary Ellen Randall said. “Its growth and impact over the past decade prove that technical expertise is an essential component of humanitarian response.”

Today, IEEE MOVE operates three vehicles in the U.S., and in 2025 dedicated a vehicle in India which is designed to bring educational resources to local communities and, in the future, provide communication and technology support to relief workers during emergencies in Karnataka. There is also a volunteer team in Puerto Rico that has adapted equipment to the local context with three easy-to-transport modular units.

More Than Equipment

While the hardware is essential, Grayson Randall noted that the volunteers’ expertise is the true asset on the ground. These engineers solve complex challenges involving power and communications – for relief workers and for first responders.

“A typical deployment might have two IEEE volunteers on the ground. They are supported by 10 to 20 more with expertise in weather monitoring, amateur shortwave radio, satellite networking and a MOVE crew support team,” Grayson Randall said.

A big lesson over the past decade is that every disaster and community’s needs unfold differently.

That’s one reason the team has adapted. In Puerto Rico, the team has leaned into modular equipment configurations. The capabilities are the same, but the equipment can be loaded into boats or small trucks to bring it where it is needed most.

Providing Education

Disaster relief is only part of MOVE’s mission. When the teams aren’t deployed, they work to educate the public. Volunteers travel to public events, schools and IEEE conferences to demonstrate the impact of technology in the real world and its role in disaster response.

By showcasing the power of engineering and technology to solve humanitarian crises, the program reaches students and members of the public through STEM outreach efforts.

IEEE MOVE: By the Numbers