Patent ID: 6169476
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: G08B

Abstract:
An early warning system for natural and manmade disasters comprising: a plurality of early warning receiver devices distributed over a wide area within a general population, and each having a receiver means for receiving early warning signals indicative of natural and manmade disasters; a plurality of remote sensing, detection, and reporting sources, distributed over a wide area, and each having: a means for acquiring data indicative of natural and manmade disasters, anda transmitter means for transmitting said disaster data; a central processing site for data analysis having: a receiver for receiving the disaster data signals from said plurality of remote disaster data sources, a geographic position database, and a means for continuous updating, containing a current geographic position for each said early warning receiver device, a geographic information database, and a means for continuous updating, containing a plethora of current geographic information data based on said geographic position for each said early warning receiver device, a computer having analysis means to determine if an early warning should be transmitted based on all said received data, a computer having analysis means to determine which specific early warning receivers and geographic areas are to receive warnings based on analysis of all said data, and a transmitter having means for transmitting early warning signals to: any selected early warning receiver, any group of selected early warning receivers, and to all early warning receivers located in specific geographic areas, in imminent danger from a natural or manmade disaster based on said computer analysis of said disaster data, said geographic position database, and said geographic information database; whereby only early warning receivers that are in actual danger from an imminent natural or manmade disaster will receive early warning signals to cause a preprogrammed mitigation response to reduce disaster effects to lives and property.