A vertical escape structure comprises an escape housing disposed in a vertical orientation and mounted to a ground to maintain structural integrity in the vertical orientation against external flooding. The escape housing includes an interior which is sealed against water entry from exterior flooding and at least one of a staircase, a ladder, an elevator, or a lift disposed in the interior of the escape housing. The vertical escape structure further comprises a connecting walkway to connect the escape housing to a building. The escape housing has a smaller horizontal footprint than the building. The walkway is severable from the building by force without damaging the escape housing to cause water entry from the exterior flooding.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for automating bulk location-based actions in response to disaster events. A system obtains data defining zones related to different geographic locations and configures a set of preferences for each zone. One of the preferences is a command for responding to an event. The system detects a disaster event and determines that a location affected by the event is related to a zone defined at the system. The system obtains sensor data generated by a sensor in the zone that is connected to a monitoring system for the zone. The system generates an alert based on the sensor data and the command and provides the alert to a client device of an entity that manages properties in the zone. The alert provides an assessment of how the disaster event affects items at properties in the zone.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for automating bulk location-based actions in response to disaster events. A system obtains data defining zones related to different geographic locations and configures a set of preferences for each zone. One of the preferences is a command for responding to an event. The system detects a disaster event and determines that a location affected by the event is related to a zone defined at the system. The system obtains sensor data generated by a sensor in the zone that is connected to a monitoring system for the zone. The system generates an alert based on the sensor data and the command and provides the alert to a client device of an entity that manages properties in the zone. The alert provides an assessment of how the disaster event affects items at properties in the zone.

A device and method for receiving real-time warning messages about a hazardous situation, for which an alert or a mitigating control action may be warranted, with the means to measure the effects forecasted by the parameters contained in the warning messages, adjust the parameters to more accurately reflect local conditions, and provide feedback about the performance and accuracy of the system sending the warning messages.

A device and method for receiving real-time warning messages about a hazardous situation, for which an alert or a mitigating control action may be warranted, with the means to measure the effects forecasted by the parameters contained in the warning messages, adjust the parameters to more accurately reflect local conditions, and provide feedback about the performance and accuracy of the system sending the warning messages.

A lightning strike alarm system using a Bipolar Conventional Air Terminal comprises a sensor electrically connected to a rod element electrified by a ground charge and an electrification plate-cone or an electrification plate-tube electrified by a thunderstorm cloud, and configured to measure electric energy induced in the electrification plate-cone or the electrification plate-tube; and a controller configured to determine that the thunderstorm cloud has approached when the electrical energy is greater than a reference energy; and an alarm device configured to output an alarm signal, based on a result of determining that the thunderstorm cloud has approached, wherein the sensor comprises: a luminescence unit, including a voltage stabilizer preventing induction of a high voltage due to the thunderstorm cloud, configured to emit light by the electric energy; and a light receiver configured to receive the light, convert the light to electric energy, and transfer the electric energy to the controller.

A lightning strike alarm system using a Bipolar Conventional Air Terminal comprises a sensor electrically connected to a rod element electrified by a ground charge and an electrification plate-cone or an electrification plate-tube electrified by a thunderstorm cloud, and configured to measure electric energy induced in the electrification plate-cone or the electrification plate-tube; and a controller configured to determine that the thunderstorm cloud has approached when the electrical energy is greater than a reference energy; and an alarm device configured to output an alarm signal, based on a result of determining that the thunderstorm cloud has approached, wherein the sensor comprises: a luminescence unit, including a voltage stabilizer preventing induction of a high voltage due to the thunderstorm cloud, configured to emit light by the electric energy; and a light receiver configured to receive the light, convert the light to electric energy, and transfer the electric energy to the controller.

A hierarchical early-warning system for landslide probability issues a first level warning based on measured rainfall amounts exceeding a determined threshold, a second level warning, after the first level warning, based additionally on measured soil moisture content measured at different levels, and Factor of safety derived from forecasted pore pressure (FPP) each exceeding a determined threshold, a third level warning, after the first and the second level warnings, based additionally on ground movement measurements compared to a determined threshold, and a fourth level warning after the first, second and third level warnings, based additionally on data from movement-based sensors including strain gauge data.

A hierarchical early-warning system for landslide probability issues a first level warning based on measured rainfall amounts exceeding a determined threshold, a second level warning, after the first level warning, based additionally on measured soil moisture content measured at different levels, and Factor of safety derived from forecasted pore pressure (FPP) each exceeding a determined threshold, a third level warning, after the first and the second level warnings, based additionally on ground movement measurements compared to a determined threshold, and a fourth level warning after the first, second and third level warnings, based additionally on data from movement-based sensors including strain gauge data.

A method and system for emergency responses can evaluate media data. An appropriate authority device or system can analyze media data such as a picture provided by an eyewitness' device to determine whether emergency relevant objects are visible in the media data and assigns confidence values to them. Furthermore, the location of the objects and the location of the media data can be determined to verify the authenticity of the possible emergency and to respond with the appropriate emergency response.