Disasters happen when people least expect them. Fires, floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes to name a few. They disorient people and separate love ones from communication. This separation can be as emotional as the disaster itself. People reach for some kind of device to communicate with the people they know to confirm they are safe and that everything close to them is still okay.

One of the most common devices used in a disaster is the telephone. People expect to pick up the phone, dial a number, and be connected instantly. Cell phones are known for failing to work after an earthquake or other natural disaster. If the towers are not destroyed, they are swamped with more calls than they can handle.

Text messages and email usually can handle more volume, but are still not totally mainstream with cellphones. For someone to send a message to a number of people requires composing each message individually.

New services have sprouted to help distribute messages to groups of people you know. Enter an email address or cellphone number into a group list before the disaster, and you can send one message to the whole group like a mailing list.

Mobile devices can also send updates to news outlets to let them know how widespread damage in their area is. Emailing photos allows viewers of newscasts and websites see the devastation and become involved in the effort to help those affected by the disaster. Emergency services can utilize this information as well to send personnel to the affected areas.

If the only device you have is a mobile phone, you can receive safety alerts that can tell you where you should go or what you should do next. Panic causes people to do unexpected actions and by being given centralized instructions, both themselves and others will be led to a safe resolution of the disaster.