WhyNot?

Weather Alert via cell phones

Category: Cell Phones
Responses: 6 (5 in support, 0 neutral, 1 in opposition)
Number of views: 2873
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Since most people now have cell phones, perhaps the cell phone industry can use the wireless network to transmit tornado warnings and other urgent information (Amber alerts, etc.) via cell phone, 2 way radio, or text messaging. Imagine the lives that could be saved if a tornado warning at 3 in the morning caused your cell phone to ring and wake you up, or notified people outside during bad weather.

CowCope, Jan 15 2004

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Normal US average annual death toll due to tornadoes: 42January to June 1997: 62January to April 1998: 103

http://www.stvincent.ac.uk/Resources/Weather/Severe/tornado.html

Not a whole lot of people when you consider the infrastructure you would require to implement real time tracking and calling the ever changing cell phone numbers.

We already have civil defense sirens, and radio messages.

Tornadoes cause property damage and are dramatic, but have a lower body count than either automotive deaths, or the common flu.

Let's call people's cell phones when the Flu Bug hits town!

Pilgrim, Jan 16 2004

Great idea! But it exists. WeatherWave does it, and the information is delivered as computer generated voice messages, so it works on any phone. Has outbound alerts and inbound weather inquiry. A low cost subscription service. Has Land Service and Marine Service and Tornado-Only Service. www.weatherwave.com

Sande Smith, Jun 04 2005