Startup Weekend GOV: Open NW Ideas

Perhaps this is bigger than an app, but an app might be a part of it: let the citizens be able to deploy a Mesh Network of Wi-Fi access points that would join the city's emergency internet backbone or route around it if it is down. Ideally, we'd be able to re-purpose existing wi-fi hardware to do so. Wifi was a big part of relief in Haiti and it could be just as useful here for coordinating resources from the ground... more »

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.

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.

Seattle shuts down when it snows. This mobile app would allow the city and region to provide critical information to everyone, especially during those marginal times when it's either starting up or melting away and nobody is quite sure what's going to happen. Possible inclusions:

--Metro Transit status
--School closures
--Requests for help by local agencies serving low-income and homeless populations
--UW campus closure... more »

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.