A new type of technology will connect Tai Rāwhiti communities to civil defence during disasters - even when all other communications are wiped out.
During Cyclone Gabrielle, power and cellphone connections to most of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay were cut, but Tai Rāwhiti’s Civil Defence has now come up with a solution, as part of its new kit for disaster preparedness.
That is defiantly a meshtastic node.
It may help responders who have been trained on the device & app’s, have the app’s already downloaded and configured and have a reliable way to recharge both the devices and cell phones.
If they are trying to get more people to install fixed stations and learn how to use them then more power to them.
Though I think that they may have a easier time getting people to start installing PRS radios in vehicles, homes, heavy machinery and getting handheld units.
It is a lot simpler and cheaper to get a PRS radio installed & provided with reliable power and 90% of people can use them without training.
I tend to think the more options for communication the better - you never know what will fail entirely, or not perform in any given situation so having alternatives - especially ones that can be as cheap as meshtastic nodes - is a good thing.
Hopefully by the time the next Cyclone Gabrielle level disaster happens in this region we’ll have more people with radios, better resiliency in cell towers, direct to satellite texting and stuff like meshtastic.