Emergency Communications
Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 5:22 pm
I'm trying to get my bearings on a project which aims to provide messaging services in event of an emergency. We were considering SMS messaging on the order of the service now provided for the Missionaries in our area: the Elders may receive a mass text in case of emergency, as well as report status. I didn't find any discussion of just how that service was implemented here.
Ideas, requirements:
1. Stake and Ward Leadership should be able to mass email and SMS message members and response groups (Stake EP Committee, High Council, High Priests, Elders, Relief Society, Construction, Medical, Fire, Ham operators, etc.)
2. Members should be able to SMS a "check-in" with Stake and Ward leadership, perhaps tagged with GPS location.
3. Other connections - I could see connections of various kinds from Ham operators (text and APRS systems) to SMS and web tracking
4. We should be able to manage the contact information, groups, and indviduals with authority to broadcast messages centrally.
Much of this is possible to set-up group SMS for an individual, with a little effort, for a single phone and individual, but I think this may be painful to share, replicate and manage. I don't think that this could easily provide the sort of check-in service I have in mind. I thought an out-of-area server acting as a reflector for text messages might provide the best architecture.
Does anyone have experience with this sort of system? I know commercial providers exist - any experience or recommendations? Comments so far as make vs. buy? Concerns?
Thanks all -
James Taylor
Ideas, requirements:
1. Stake and Ward Leadership should be able to mass email and SMS message members and response groups (Stake EP Committee, High Council, High Priests, Elders, Relief Society, Construction, Medical, Fire, Ham operators, etc.)
2. Members should be able to SMS a "check-in" with Stake and Ward leadership, perhaps tagged with GPS location.
3. Other connections - I could see connections of various kinds from Ham operators (text and APRS systems) to SMS and web tracking
4. We should be able to manage the contact information, groups, and indviduals with authority to broadcast messages centrally.
Much of this is possible to set-up group SMS for an individual, with a little effort, for a single phone and individual, but I think this may be painful to share, replicate and manage. I don't think that this could easily provide the sort of check-in service I have in mind. I thought an out-of-area server acting as a reflector for text messages might provide the best architecture.
Does anyone have experience with this sort of system? I know commercial providers exist - any experience or recommendations? Comments so far as make vs. buy? Concerns?
Thanks all -
James Taylor