Leveraging high-accuracy location technology after a disaster

This article originally appeared in print with the headline, "A better way to recover."

A previous article (“High-stakes hide and seek,” Jan. 2013) examined myriad ways in which high-accuracy wireless location is proving to be an essential tool for law enforcement in the fight against crime and terrorism. Unfortunately, that is not the only threat facing first responders today. In the wake of several high-profile natural disasters across the globe in recent years, authorities have ramped up their search for enhanced technical capabilities to prepare for —and respond to —these events. And, once again, high-accuracy wireless location is at the top of their lists.

The drumbeat of natural disasters stemming from hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and floods is a depressing reminder that we all are at the mercy of nature. For instance:

• A February 2013 winter storm (aka, a “nor’easter”) in the northeastern United States set snowfall records and caused 18 deaths, while leaving more than 700,000 homes without power. To prepare for the storm, airlines canceled more than 2,700 flights, schools were closed across several states, and road crews dispatched hundreds of snow plows and trucks to clear roads.
• In late October 2012, Category 3 Hurricane Sandy became the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, and the second-costliest hurricane in U.S. history, after Katrina. Making landfall in the New York City area, Sandy caused 285 deaths and $75 billion in damages. Coastal areas in New York and New Jersey were hit especially hard. The storm previously impacted several Caribbean islands.
• The March 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami was the most powerful known earthquake in Japan. Tsunami waves caused by the offshore quake exceeded heights of 130 feet and devastated communities up to 6 miles inland. This resulted in a meltdown of a nuclear power plant, leading to the evacuation of all residents within a 12-mile radius.

These examples are snapshots of the devastating impact of natural disasters. The statistics on deaths, property damage, and financial impacts underscore our vulnerability and the need for authorities to stack the deck in their favor, so that they’re better prepared to act — before and after the disaster strikes. These disasters have served as wakeup calls to spur demand by public-safety agencies for new location application and technology development. A high-accuracy wireless location system, deployed prior to a natural disaster, could prove instrumental in helping authorities alert citizens, locate victims and survivors, and save lives.