It doesn’t seem the two would mix very well, but the Hurricane Preparedness Expo sponsored by ProjectSafety Business and Technology Cluster (ProjectSafety) proved different last weekend. The expo was under a big tent next to a Gulf of Mexico waterway inlet called John’s Pass. This waterway was made during the Gale of 1848 which drastically distorted miles of the West Central Florida Gulf coastline creating John’s Pass. With the theme of “don’t be scared -- be prepared,” the expo demonstrated survivable wireless communication technologies from Bluemont Networks and Voda LLC, both on and off the water.
“ProjectSafety has documented what type of wireless broadband network topologies survive hurricanes and which do not,” said Larry Karisny, Director of the not-for-profit ProjectSafety.org. “Time and time again these low powered radios with low wind profile antennas survive catastrophic events while typical high power towered emergency communication and cell networks do not.”Karisny offers video documentation from government officials supporting these statements on his projectsafety.org website.
The show by chance took place the very next day after all local area TV stations went to an all digital format, clearing the way for the 700 MHz spectrum. Portions of this spectrum were to be used as a national solution for interoperable public safety communications. To date there has been only one low bid for building such a network.The broadband wireless networks demonstrated at expo have the ability of adding the 4.9 GHz spectrum to all radios giving public safety primary and interoperable wireless access in emergencies.
Oddly enough, the wireless broadband network was immediately put to a test when a two hour power outage hit sections of Madeira Beach Florida where the expo took place.Due to the design technology and topology the wireless network ran perfectly and without any interruption.
In the expo, Bluemont Networks had a radio node running off the power grid while video streaming the event live demonstrated both the bandwidth capabilities and survivability of these radios (see picture). "Our low powered radios can run off a marine battery for weeks after a hurricane", said Bryan Paulk, CEO of Bluemont Networks. "We are strategically placing these hurricane survivable radios on hotel roof tops along the beaches for tourist casual Internet access and information services.These radios are then back-hauled by large building roof top point--to-point radios capable of pulling the signal inland to dry land.We have learned from Hurricane Katrina that these wireless network topologies may be the only way people will communicate after the devastation caused from a hurricane.”
The expo not only demonstrated a broadband wireless communication network currently running portions of the Gulf Beach cities along the coast, but actually demonstrated WiFi hot spot buoys running in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.Voda LCC offers WiFi radio buoys that have the ability of collecting sensor and video information using WiFi for data collection.
“Voda is pleased to be a supporting sponsor for the John’s Pass Hurricane Expo. Our outdoor sensor network products are designed with harsh environments in mind and hurricanes certainly fit that description.” says David Fries, CEO of Voda LLC in St Petersburg. “The imaging and chemical sensors and drop-in broadband communication network solutions offered by Voda would greatly enhance the ability of first responders to monitor conditions and share live field data during a crisis situation.”
Cities along the West Central Gulf Coast are beginning to realize that things need to be a little different when offering wireless communications to their communities. City of Madeira Beach District 1 Commissioner Terry Lister, whereJohn’s Pass is located, said ” these municipal wireless networks are not only important for our first responders, they are a critical requirement for people coordinating supply logistics, insurance adjusters putting in claims and just your average citizen coming back. The longer it takes to get these communication networks in place the longer it will take us to rebuild. We need to, of course, prepare before a hurricane but we also need to think about what we need to do after a hurricane. We can’t rebuild unless we have a way to communicate.Small coastal cities like Madeira Beach need find a way to support these critically needed wireless networks. “
Hotels and condo along the beaches are beginning to see the benefit of offering these hurricane survivable wireless services in both good times and bad.When you look at major hurricanes like Hurricane Katrina, it is large resort and convention properties that most likely will survive the destruction. Oddly enough the large water front hotels and condos along the beaches are the areas that people will come back to first because of the structural integrity and back-up power sources of these properties. These wireless services are now becoming a required amenity in hotel/condo properties they manage. Making them hurricane survivable is just one more benefit.
“The answer to municipal wireless networks is and has always been public/private participation,” said Larry Karisny, who documented this statement in a ProjectSafety white paper written in December of 2002.It is just a matter of who is going to champion the initial deployment of these critical needed muniwireless networks.If you live in a coastal community where a hurricane could hit, waiting to deploy these networks may be a big mistake.”
