While Hurricane Wilma has broken some records - supposedly the strongest hurricane on record based on barometric pressure - but it could also be an opportunity for the community in the strike probability to set up an SMS->Email/web server before a disaster strikes.
Maybe it won't get used. But if a disaster strikes, wouldn't it be nice if there was dependable communication on the ground? For the U.S., spreading the word within the local community about a local SMS number for the emergency could be a real boon. And a local SMS number in an adjacent community could be backup. Coordinating any rescue efforts needed, if there are no evacuations, or incomplete evacuations.
What do you need? An Asterisk Server, running Linux, a mobile phone number (or a number that can receive SMS), and some scripts to get the information to email lists, a website and RSS. There are many ways to do this, and if a few different groups explored different possibilities, the progress could really be worthwhile.
Wouldn't it be nice to be ready and working ahead of a disaster instead of wondering why there isn't any communications afterward? Why not have the community working where governments and NGOs have failed?
The people exist who know how to do this; I'm fairly sure that every Linux User Group has - the equipment is probably lieing around somewhere, unused... why not do something useful?
Image at top courtesy of Digiteyesed.com.
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