[elsamuko]

I think all these issues will be shadowed by the development of mobile networks. You will plug in your phone, listen to spotify and the navigation will tell you about traffic and accidents.

There was a similar raise of concern in Germany, when the insurances bought the emergency system of the autobahn, which resulted as a non-issue, because shortly after everyone had a cellphone.

[mrkickling]

But what if there is a natural disaster like a Tsunami (not in Norway of course..) or a storm, or what if Norway is attacked by Sweden. Would a mobile network work in those situations, or would radio be better?

[robin_reala]

Norway causes tsunamis rather than suffering from them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunamis_affecting_the_British...

[elsamuko]

Maybe not, but I'm not sure, if FM would work in that scenario. Google says, that there are two emergency broadcasting systems in Norway:

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_defense_siren#Norway

> https://www.worlddab.org/country-information/norway/history/...

There is also an app for that ^^: http://www.umsalert.com/about

[cbd1984]

Radio is worthless in an emergency unless there's:

- Someone in the booth. 24/7. No downtime. No autopilot. No sign-offs. No bathroom breaks without someone to cover. No excuses. If the weather gets bad, have at least two shifts in the station. Bring cots.

This has already been a problem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minot_train_derailment

- A way to get information to the radio station when every other method of communication is down. Satellite is not an option, because Earth stations can be disabled by severe wind or heavy snowfall. Point-to-point microwave is killed by heavy precipitation (rain fade, boys and girls) or widespread blackouts. Blackouts also kill Internet links. That isn't even considering man-made disasters.

- Repeated, serious testing of this stuff, before it's too late, with real consequences for people who fail. And, yes, in this context, having a good reason is failure. Having a good excuse is failure. "Lessons learned" is always, always, always don't fail.

- And, finally, a guarantee that people will hear the message when it goes out, not when their brother's friend's wife's accountant's CPA tells them, and most certainly not over social media. If SMS is more effective than FM in this role, FM has failed at the task.

That's the bare minimum to be taken seriously as an emergency alarm and disaster broadcast medium.

[adrianb]

Mobile phones can receive special emergency broadcast messages (for the US see http://www.fcc.gov/guides/wireless-emergency-alerts-wea ). Probably a more effective way of attracting people's attention as well, since we all have a compulsive desire to check our phones the second they vibrate.