The below which came across Aunty’s desk today is somewhat dense to read, but the bottom line is that they are suggesting what is being called a “reverse 911″ - that mobile communications devices are the next new line of defense for citizens during a crisis such as a terror attack.

They note that 60% of U.S. citizens now carry cell phones, and in places such as the U.K. and Italy it’s closer to 100% (?). Therefore, reaching people with an automated message to their portable may make more sense than relying on a radio-broadcast alert.

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ — Cell phones, pagers and Black and BlueBerries may soon replace CNN and the radio at the cutting edge of terrorism prevention and response efforts, emergency preparedness expert Michael J. Hopmeier told a recent NATO conference on risk assessment and risk communication related to bioterrorism…

[Continue reading Reverse 911: Portable Devices as the New Anti-Terrorist Front Line?]