This tip comes via Mitchell Moss. Moss, a highly respected urban policy expert oversees New York University’s Improving Robustness and Resiliency in Catastrophic Response Networks project which is part of the School’s Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response.
During his presentation at a homeland security seminar I recently attended, Moss recommended that everyone in the room – and all citizens — should have an extra mobile phone battery. It’s a great suggestion and I went out and got one from my BlackBerry.
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To me, your cell phone or PDA is the most important preparedness tool an individual can have in the event of an emergency. So, having at least one extra charged battery makes a lot of sense, though I hadn’t thought of it until Professor Moss raised the idea.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Jimmy Jazz // May 2, 2008 at 6:35 am
My wife and I both carry around those Energizer Energi-To-Go cell phone chargers.
Example link: http://www.amazon.com/Energizer-Energi-Instant-Charger-Motorola/dp/B000JD39X8
Powered by 2 AA batteries, they’re great for in a pinch. We also keep a DC charger in the car in case we need juice while driving.
-Jimmy
2 Good Advice From Fellow Blogger, New Addition to Blog Roll // May 3, 2008 at 6:24 pm
[...] received an excellent amendment to my recommendation that citizens purchase an extra cell phone battery. The suggestion came [...]
3 Breaking News: Ready.Gov, Red Cross Adding Mobile Phones To Basic Emergency Preparedness Supply Kit Recommendation // May 18, 2009 at 4:49 pm
[...] The move comes as mobile communications and social media are becoming increasingly central to public disaster preparedness and response. In fact, with information so important in an emergency, it can be argued that a mobile phone may be a citizen’s most valuable disaster tool. There had been some hesitation in the past about including mobile phones in minimum recommendations due to “digital divide” concerns, but their widespread proliferation has made that objection anachronistic. The need now is to explain to the public how best to use their mobiles in emergency situations. As I have witnessed first hand, including at a Red Cross relief shelter, having a phone charger is also very important, as would be an extra cellphone battery. [...]
4 Virginia’s Top Preparedness Advisor Says 3rd Annual Tax Free Supplies Holiday Starting Today Has Been ‘Win-Win-Win’ Success For Govt./Business/Public — Question Is What’s Keeping Other States, Feds From Trying Similar Incenti // May 25, 2010 at 6:56 am
[...] example, why not partner with wireless communications retailers to provide a discount on cell batteries or phones (or free minutes)Â if people brought in a completed family communications plan into the [...]
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