Communications Infrastructure No Match for Katrina

jfourier writes "In this age of cheap commoditized consumer electronics and advanced mobile technology, why can't all the people of a city make contact during an emergency? Cell phone circuits filled up during 9/11 attacks and in the wake of hurricane Katrina very few victims can make contact with their families, despite the fact that they have all those mobile phones. The Red Cross is looking to deploy satellite equipment to restore communications in affected areas." From the article: "Katrina made landfall in Louisiana early this morning with sustained winds of 145 mph, but veered just enough to the east to spare New Orleans a direct blow. Even so, flooding, power outages and heavy damage to structures were reported throughout the region. The Red Cross tomorrow expects to begin deploying a host of systems it will need, including satellite telephones, portable satellite dishes, specially equipped communications trucks, high- and low-band radio systems, and generator-powered wireless computer networks, said Jason Wiltrout, a Red Cross network engineer. "

Comments

Red Cross runs IT now?

[CycleMan]

To hear that the Red Cross is bringing in telecom equipment surprises me. Are there not enough sick and homeless people that need care? Cell phone usage is not going to be limited to "Hi, Mom, I'm okay but I've gotta go so a thousand other folks can say hello." The cell phone is a luxury right now; a dry place to sleep is the real need.

Maybe now that the power is down, all that broadband-over-power-lines will be down so the ham radio operators can help with the truly urgent info.

Re:Ham Radio

[Frogbert]

Can someone tell me what is wrong with CB radio? If anything? It seems to me CB is the perfect fallback system.