Emergency Satellite Phones
How to communicate between agencies
in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Well, here I am advocating something I only know a modicum about. I’d love to have some folks chime in with expertise.
One of the obvious problems with the relief effort on the Gulf Coast has been lack of communications. One methodology that ain’t any help during a storm; but, significant thereafter, is satellite phones. If the feds haven’t a spare comm satellite up there with all the other crap they have in space, one could be put up.
Steering to the best location can take 24-48 hours. But, you don’t have to wait for a storm to move on before you start moving the critter. You don’t need lots of different equipment, you can rely on one model of phone. You can have as many channels as you might require, varying frequencies for each agency on the ground. FEMA, city police, state police, sheriffs, Red Cross, Coast Guard, whatever -- can communicate within their ranks and also with each other on bands set aside just for separate tasks.
I’m not suggesting using the commercial sats already up there for private use. You can’t regulate use or load on those as well as something purposefully set aside for disaster communications. Yes, it can be used for other efforts requiring coordination between agencies off-peak. You want the critter available when needed!
You can’t achieve half of what is needed in a disaster like this -- unless you can talk to each other. Who knows, it might make more sense than building another high school gymnasium named after a Congressman.
Posted: Mon - September 5, 2005 at 10:46 AM