Find Your Loved Ones After a Disaster: WeAreSafeAndSound.com
Just in time for the start of hurricane season comes a new business called We Are Safe And Sound. It is a electronic lost and found bulletin board for families. Families pre-register for the site and receive a login ID, password and voicemail box number. If, unfortunately, they’re involved in a disaster like a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or terrorist attack, family members can update the website, either via the internet or telephone and leave a message for their loved ones letting them know where they are and their condition.
I think it’s an interesting idea, and I do see a need for something like this, but I don’t know if the company’s business model is viable. It consists of selling advertising space on the website and audio advertisements on the voicemail system during the initial setup. The founder of the site, Alvin Brown, explained that advertising does not play when a user is a leaving a voicemail, so that not no one is ever forced to listen to an ad for the local insurance salesman while clinging to the roof of a building during a flood, for instance.
Jaclyn on June 22nd, 2009 2:14 pm
This is definitely a much needed and anticipated service for people during situations such as hurricanes, earth quakes and more. There are numerous situations in the world that unfortunately leave you seperated from your loved one’s which can be very devastating and scary. People need all the services they can get when it comes to finding their loved one’s in these tragic situations.
Jack Zufelt on June 22nd, 2009 3:58 pm
Seems a little late. If you’ve got access to the internet you’ve got access to facebook and twitter, two much larger, more searched out sites. The voicemail things is its only saving grace.
RedHotFranchises on June 23rd, 2009 12:34 am
I would have to agree that it is a little too late, with the existing social networking sites already around, it is a good concept but shouldn’t be limited to only major disasters, as loved ones also get separated from smaller disasters, and only if both of them are safe.
It would be nice to have a tracking chip implanted to the individual which will definitely increase the probability of being found.
Ann on June 23rd, 2009 6:25 am
I too questioned at first due to the popularity of social networking sites. After I looked at it further, I think it is still a very needed tool as it has the voice mail feature and can connect those that are technically savvy with those that are not. This could potentially be most vital to those families that do not have access to cell phones and other costly tools.
Hunter on June 27th, 2009 3:14 am
I believe the site could be extremely useful esp. in a power outage situation by using the voicemail option. In response to other networking sites I’ve personally found that both Facebook and Myspace servers regularly are jammed at times. I could only imagine if a natural disaster or other emergency struck and loved ones could not get ahold of each other using either of those sources.
Chirag Patel on July 9th, 2009 11:23 am
I believe this is about doing good for the community… much more than business or what other sites can do for you. First and foremost, it helps you to start thinking that if you were in that situation, then you and your family could benefit from it. Then you decide whether to use it or not. As a service, they have designed it for this very purpose and that is it. They do not claim to do other things. And it appears like they have thought through the process. I am sure they can improve and innovate further. This is a start and your participation will help define it further.
My message to folks behind wearesafeandsound.com: Keep up with the good work. The families who benefit from it will thank you much more than words can express!
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