Actually a few ideas.
First, what if Garmin provided a portal to NPS rangers to interact with people in a National Park? This would be an opt in service, and you could selectively opt in to different message types for a specific time period when you plan to be in the park. Users could opt in/out of different message types, and would get a direct inreach address to park officials for emergencies. Or, if there is a fire or flood warning affecting a portion of the park, rangers could draw a box on a map and send an alert to any inreach with a last known location inside the box.
Idea 2: Automated Event Driven Alerts. Allow users to opt in and configure event driven alert messages. Example: send me an alert message if I am within a watch or warning zone by the National Weather Service (flood, thunderstorm, severe wind, tornado, tropical storm, tsunami, winter storm, etc.). Also wildfires, earthquakes, Etc.
Idea 3: Assistance Alerts. Allow users to opt in to messages about other users in need of assistance within a specified range. If another inreach user within 2 miles has triggered an emergency due to an injury, I can opt in to be notified and potentially go onsite to help—especially if I have medical training, and I’m the nearest resource available. Giving the inReach community the ability to help each other out in emergencies would surely save lives and potentially reduce some burden on the traditional rescue services.
Thoughts?
