While U.S. government officials debate using cell phone text messaging to replace television and radio as the primary means of emergency alerts, China has leaped ahead of us in this area. As Typhoon Kaemi moved toward China, residents were warned with SMS messages.
In Fujian, authorities have sent 18 million messages known as SMS, for short message service with storm information during five typhoons this year, according to the provincial government. Source: ABC News
Personally, the disasters most likely to hit my area aren’t going to have a warning … earthquakes … nor do I expect cell towers to be working after a major quake. But in places where tornadoes, storms, tsunamis affect people, I think this might be a great idea. Cell phones are so prevalent that they are affecting pay phone use, and if someone doesn’t have a cell phone so many others do that they would most likely get the message anyway.
I think the WARN (Warning, Alert and Response Network) act should get some real attention in Congress.
