An article on Forbes had brought up some great points on how IoT technology can be implemented in the event of hurricanes. The electrical grid in may areas of the hurricane took a hit, which disabled a lot of technological devices. Now that it is 2017 and we are immersed in technology, we should prepare for disasters in relation to power and internet infrastructure in the same way we stock up on food and water.
How Should IoT Technology Be Used During Disasters?
Rather than smart devices at home, IoT should be implemented by local governments to gather weather statistics in order to determine the severity of an incoming hurricane. It will also allow for monitoring of utilities and other aspects of a city in order to see where aid needs to be sent. Some cities have already been implementing Internet of Things technology for less important reasons, so cities that are prone to hurricanes have no reason why they shouldn’t utilize smart devices.
Local retail stores may also benefit to keep up with the demand of stocking supplies prior to a hurricane hitting. Stores can use smart devices to monitor the number of people moving through a store and detecting which items are in demand and when they are running low on stock. This will prevent people trampling over each other in order to grab essential items at the last minute. Devices may also keep track of purchases so that goods can evenly be distributed instead of a few people hoarding everything. It can also help stores keep their staff safe by monitoring the weather conditions so that they may automatically be notified whether they should come into work or not.
These are just some examples of how such technology may be implemented.
The Hurricane Watch
Since we have the opportunity to get warned in advance about hurricanes, the monitoring or upcoming storms is the best tool we have to save lives. There is a lot of time for preparation before a hurricane hits, but everything seems to always go wrong or predictions can be way off. Using IoT to monitor storms during the watch phase can help predict the exact intensity of the storms so people can make better judgements whether to flee or stay. It will also help businesses get an idea of how much items to stock up to distribute the right amount of goods so nobody is ill prepared before the storm.
