Problems solved by this patent
Almost every community experiences some of the many forms of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, lightning storms, or tsunamis. In modern times communities are also increasingly faced with manmade disasters from chemical, biological, or nuclear accidents. These emergency situations may affect all or a portion of the persons and property in these communities. For most citizens advanced early warnings of these natural and manmade catastrophic threats are either non-existent or are received by very small percentages of the population when disasters threaten.
Solutions provided by this patent
The inventions provides means for early warnings to be transmitted to an entire population in any given geographic area determined to be in danger from any type of natural or manmade disasters to allow for a wider variety of mitigation responses that will reduce damages to lives and property.
Patent Information
Patent Number: US 6169476 B1
Patent Title: Early warning system for natural and manmade disasters
Publication type: Grant
Application number: US 09/272,767
Publication date: 2 Jan 2001
Filing date: 19 Mar 1999
Priority date: 18 Feb 1997
Fee status: Paid
Inventors: John Patrick Flanagan
Abstract: An early warning system for all natural and manmade disasters to collect and analyze data in real time as disasters occur, and when necessary, transmit early warnings to cause mitigation responses to lessen the disaster impact on lives and property. The system detects disasters in real time and determines the type, magnitude, speed, direction, and the expected geographic area to be impacted. Early warnings are transmitted to a wide variety of microprocessor receiver/controllers embedded in commonly used consumer and commercial devices to create a universal standard for receiving warnings and allow both human and automated responses during disasters to greatly increase the effectiveness of the warnings to users. The system determines precise real time position and location coordinates as well as other types of current geographic information data for all mobile and stationary devices capable of receiving early warning signals. This allows the system to transmit directed early warnings to only those specific receivers or group of receivers that are in danger from a disaster as determined by the current location and geographic information for each receiver. The system minimizes false or unnecessary warnings and greatly increases a receiver’s confidence in the necessity to take effective mitigation actions during natural or manmade disasters. The system also provides emergency response instructions In a timelier manner to emergency response personnel in all areas prior to a disaster Impact to allow a higher quality emergency mitigation response.
