For members of the public, the key lesson is ‘text not talk’ during emergencies. Text messages are more likely to get through (as they use less network capacity), and their use will also help ease congestion on the network. Mobile phones tend to play a supplementary role in early warning systems, where prior surveillance, public education and a range of news media, such as broadcast tv, radio and the Internet are
generally the best way to prepare people for an impending disaster. Mobile phones are a useful mechanism for individuals to relay that information on to friends and family who may have missed
the initial broadcast.
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On the impact of a disaster, in the chaotic hours that follow, emergency service communications will
always be the top priority. In addition, the human value of mobile phones lies in people’s desire to contact their family and friends as soon as possible. Members of the public need to be aware that they are more likely to be able to make contact through SMS messages rather than voice calls. During chaotic situations, mobile phones can help in the process of recovery. They uniquely give affected people and aid agencies the means to find and receive information specific to their needs. |
In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, it is vital for operators and governments to work together to restore mobile networks as quickly and effectively as possible. Mobile networks are capable of much faster recovery than other means of communication. It is in the aftermath, too, that the distinctive capacity of mobiles to
disperse information to where it is most needed comes into play, especially as many people will be
displaced from their homes.. The mobile phone permits the decentralised flow of communications which is so important for the process
of recovery. |
In the recovery phase mobiles also make a completely distinctive contribution. Mobiles are likely to be the dominant means of communication for affected members of the public. This flow of information – not mediated by broadcasting agencies or public authorities – ensures that people elsewhere quickly come to know what is happening and what help is needed. In the chaotic aftermath of a disaster, when people are displaced, buildings and infrastructure
destroyed, no central authority can possibly hold all the necessary information and allocate resources
to the place of greatest need.
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