Patent ID: 7515041

Claim:
A disaster alert system comprising: A) at least one central station for transmitting disaster alert information by radio directed at disaster alert devices at use locations in specific at-risk regions defined by latitude and longitude, B) a plurality of disaster alert devices, each device adapted to operate for at least one year on electric power from a smoke detector type battery and each device adapted for use at a specific stationary use location in a disaster alert system, with each disaster alert device comprising: 1) a radio receiver, 2) an audio unit for alerting persons located at the use location to the precise nature of a disaster, and 3) a processor comprising a memory unit with latitude and longitude of the specific stationary use location stored therein prior to delivery to the use location of the disaster alert device at the specific stationary use location, wherein said processor is: a) programmed to monitor radio transmissions from a central station for disaster alerts directed to all disaster alert devices located within an at-risk region defined by latitude and longitude information, b) programmed to compare the latitude and longitude information transmitted by the central station with the latitude and longitude information stored in its memory unit to determine if a message is directed to the disaster alert unit, and c) programmed to provide a voice warning via said audio unit of the nature of potential or actual risks to people at the use location based on information received by the disaster alert device from the central station when and only when the disaster alert device is among the disaster alert devices to which a transmission from the central station is directed, and d) programmed with a sleep mode adapted to switch on the radio receiver to receive mode for a short predetermined first time period out of a second much longer time period so as to permit the at least one year of operation with electric power from the smoke detector type battery source, and 4) a label specifically defining the use location wherein said central station comprises a radio transmit system programmed to transmit disaster warnings in a transmission having a header portion and a message portion wherein the header portion of the transmission contains latitude and longitude information defining at least one potential at-risk region; wherein the potential at-risk region is defined nominally to a first precision in the header portion and the radio transmit system is further programmed to transmit additional latitude and longitude information in the message portion defining precise at-risk regions with additional latitude and longitude information at a second precision that is more precise than the first precision.