Propagation of Public Safety Warning Messages: A Delay Tolerant Network Approach

This work presents an auxiliary mechanism to aid in the distribution of warning messages for Emergency Alert Systems (EAS). The main objectives of the proposed mechanism are to speed up and broaden the warning messages distribution process to provide to the public faster access to crucial information. EAS are public safety message systems designed to enable authorities to address the population in case of an emergency. This kind of system has been in use for a long time, however traditionally they are composed of radio/TV broadcast messages or sirens spread through endangered regions. This system on the other hand addresses the next generation of EAS systems that will be based on wireless computer networks and satellite technologies. The method proposed here is a complementary way to spread warning messages that not only successfully broadens the EAS reachability but also significantly speeds up the messages distribution process.