Limit cell data to SMS (text) during emergencies
During major emergencies, the cell network breaks under too much voice traffic. SMS requires way less bandwidth. So, why not anticipate the next big outage and work with cell carriers to limit the cell network to sms traffic, thereby increasing capacity by 10x- 100x. This ties in with text to 911 idea someone submitted--which would be an essential component if authorities chose to throttle voice and video traffic.
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Crowd source the emergency
A way to map reports from the street/field in a regional emergency. Residents could report what they know, governments/blogs/media could republish the pieces of the map specific to their communities.
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All Things Snow
--Metro Transit status
--School closures
--Requests for help by local agencies serving low-income and homeless populations
--UW campus closure... more »
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I hear sirens ...
What's the emergency?
Wherever you are, when you hear sirens, launch this app. It will use geolocation to figure out where you are, then check police, fire, 911, and other data to see what emergency activity is going on near you.
It can sort by distance, and also translate 911 jargon into plain English.