Earthquake communications for kids
Earthquake communications for kids
Q1: Getting state government to listen to the idea they already agreed that radio will be the only form of communication that will survive. They are spending monies on emergency personnel and training which is good but it is a lot more expensive to try to train enough people to cover every school.
Idea Description
In the next 30 years there will be a major earthquake in Northern California. What did we learn from Katrina? There were 3 essential items needed; water, shelter and communications. It is already known that phone, cable and internet services will most likely not be available but FM radio will survive as most towers are out of the quake zones and have their own generators. Another fact that most parents commute times average > 45 minutes each way. That being said the chances of our kids being seperated from us is high. I am proposing to provide all kids with micro radio devices at <$1 each that can be attached to their keychains for emergency radio broadcasts. See caliquakes.blogspot.com.
What will you do if you win $10,000 for this idea?
I would use the money to setup a website and promote the idea to emergency services in California for potential funding or subsidizing the purchase for low income families. I would also secure a contract with an overseas supplier that could gaurentee large shipments of this radios. In addition I would formalize the business structure as a non profit and seek grants as an addtional source of funds.
Vote for it now.
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Post a commentThanks so much for getting in touch! I'd love to speak further! How to contact you? Great idea by the way - it's so important to be well prepared!!
Good advice Nancy but most schools in the zone will experience heavy damage. Its hard to compare disasters of course but none of the most recent disasters including Katrina where even hospitals were not prepared and could not provide the required services. We are better off providing each child with a means of getting information and having that shared amongst those in close proximity.
You are doing it!! Just spread the word!! Thanks for your comment and vote.
This is an amazing and NECESSARY idea. I live in Southern California, and we have the same fears. And thinking about it now, there are more and more natural disasters that are happening more and more all around the country (and the world). What an amazing and needed resource this would be. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to support your cause! Cindy
As mentioned before the infrastructure is already in place for emergency AM/FM broadcasts. Cable and Internet, cell phones will most likely not survive as power will not be available in most locations. The micro radios placed on back packs and keychains would be activated by pulling a plastic tab to start the battery. The most important thing we need to do is communicate to our kids what to do, what not to do and where to go. This process is already installed in the current radio emergency system. The keys here are cost and effectiveness. There could be as many as 10 million kids affected if a disaster occurs during the 10 hour window they are seperated from us.
The radios would be for receiving emergency broadcasts only. The batteries would last approximately 18 hours. The towers for FM/AM broadcasting would send emergency messages that would tell the kids where to go and how to get help. The parents would also receive the same message since they already know where their kids are located they will understand where they kids are most likely headed in a disaster and can start their search in that area. In all recent disasters Maimar and China communication would have told them things like where is emergency shelter, where are locations for fresh water, food drops etc. This does not have to be 2 way communication whats needed is simply information so people can move in the same direction and to cut down on confusion.
this is a really neat idea. I live in Seattle where our disaster probability is also high. We have a Disaster Coordinator who is in charge of training community members. If you haven't communicated with the appropriate local folks in your community, they may have infrastructure in place for you to work with. We are also encouraged to learn HAM radio and become operators. I guess I am concerned that a micro radio device is unlikely to be powerful enough to transmit signal to a parent located 45 minutes away. We have 2 way radios in our house and they don't transmit farther than 3/4 mile, and then only flat, not over a hill. So I'm concerned the tools you'd distribute would have to be proven effective and would have to have long-lasting batteries. Elsewise the kids may have a false sense of…more security? I applaud your interest in disaster preparedness though.