Enterprises, governments and communities worldwide need SMS emergency response strategies in place to send information, connect people and save lives, according to Clickatell.

The world experienced many tragedies last year such as the earthquake in China, cyclone in Myanmar, wildfires in California and Australia, and Hurricane Ike hitting Texas. When these events occurred, people often got separated from family, were in harms' way and needed to send and receive critical information immediately.

"Governments, communities, organizations, schools and small and mid-sized businesses need to consider an emergency communications plan using SMS for immediate and assured delivery," said Chuck Drake, executive vice president of marketing for Clickatell, Redwood City, CA.

"If tragedy happens, there won't be time to do the easy steps necessary to send out critical information," he said. "So, organizations should implement these SMS emergency alert plans now before tragedy strikes."

The Hudson River emergency airplane landing is an example of how SMS was used to connect families during times of chaos.

Unknown to the average person, however, SMS was also used to notify local officials to dispatch them to the scene immediately, which positively affected the heroic outcome.

The government agencies who needed to be informed had laid out a mobile plan of action-in advance-to communicate via SMS immediately at the time of the crisis.

Local and national government and private organizations must be able to communicate bad weather, community tragedies and other unforeseen events that affect people in the heat of the moment, letting them know if they should leave an unsafe area or pick up their children immediately, for example.

Everyone carries an SMS-enabled mobile device and organizations have the technological ability to inform people immediately, exactly where they are.

Without a solid mobile communications plan in place people might have to wait for critical information from television, radio, or the word on the street.

Because people are typically mobile during times of crisis, they may not be able to receive critical information necessary to save their lives unless delivered directly to their mobile device.

Everyone remembers the unfortunate response rates in Myanmar, China and Katrina in New Orleans where emergency notifications could have been improved.

If local enterprises, governments and communities had each established an SMS-based emergency alert system ahead of time, tens of thousands of people would have been better informed via their mobile phone prior, during and following the crisis.

"SMS is important because it is immediate," Mr. Drake said. "It reaches people exactly where they are.
"Everyone has a cell phone," he said. "And every cell phone has SMS built in. SMS gets through even when voice and other communication forms might not be able to."