SMS, Text Messaging, Storms and Natural Disasters
Summary
Text messaging plays an important role in crisis management from government agencies ability to send notifications or warnings to assisting individuals in determining appropriate evacuation routes and in providing instruction on available shelters. Todays modeling systems are more able to accurately predict a storms path and provide residents early warnings so that they can properly prepare. Warning centers use forecast models, buoys that detect wave heights, and seismic activity reports to predict the likelihood of a tsunami. There are also a number of cell phone applications available in the Google Play or iTunes Store, that will send alerts based on weather conditions or defined specifications. There are many different ways to get SMS or text message warnings for natural disasters, some require that you opt-in, while others rely on updated technology to blanket a specific geographical area.