Intriguing tech idea for future disaster situations

[pegkerr]

Here is an article about a clever solution to the sort of problems we had with Katrina: a backpack that first responders can carry. The person wearing it generates electricity which is stored in the generator, just by walking. A cool idea.

What also caught my eye was a throw away line halfway through the article. hamsterwoman, you'd love this. Apparently, a hamster running on a wheel will generate enough energy to run a cell phone. That's what the cell phone companies need to start telephone service again: give everyone a hamster!

You are invited to leave a comment offering a suggestion that would help avoid the sorts of problems we saw with Katrina, the next time we face a disaster. What would you do differently? Be creative!

Comments

[resqdog51.livejournal.com]

Yikes. Do first responders really carry 80lb packs?


Yeah, we can and do. Depends on what your specialty is, tho. Some of us carry more, some carry less.

First responders are required to take care of themselves, with gear and supplies from their pack, for 24-48 hours from initial deployment. Usually, we have a 'personal pack' an we have a 'red bag'. As a K9 handler, I have two 'red bags'... one for me and one for my dog. By the end of it, the first response team needs to be completely self contained, self reliant and able to take care of itself for 2 weeks without needing any input from the community they have come to assist -- each team/task force consists of over 60 people and that's a pretty heavy drain on a devastated community.


......now you make me curious. I ought to go home and weigh my personal pack.... with and without safety gear, which is pretty heavy in and of itself, heh. Well, heavy if you aren't used to wearing it all the time. Heck, my boots alone weigh at least 5 pounds, I'm sure.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, what's the "red bag?"