The next time an ice storm hits or something goes wrong, turn to a cellphone for help.
Ball State University will have a video conference 8:30 a.m. Friday in the Alumni Center promoting emergency safety.
"This is Not a Drill: Indiana`s High-Tech Disaster Communications Technology" is in the New Economy, New Rules program by TechPoint, an Indiana-based, non-profit group.
Susan Orebaugh, Economic Development Specialist for Muncie, Delaware County's Economic Development Alliance, said the event will include Ball State police officers, members of Lifestream, Cardinal Health Systems, the Department of Computer Science, Department of Technology and the Center for Media Design. Anyone who wants to be prepared is welcome to come, though, she said.
"The event is for anybody involved in any kind of emergency situation," she said.
The main topics will include what happens when someone dials 911 on a cell phone and how first responders communicate during a natural disaster, she said. Examples of these emergency situations include the ice storm in Delaware county a year ago, sudden illness and heart attacks, she said.
"There are some uncertainties about where your cell phone call will go when you dial 911," Bob Fey, Ball State Police Department assistant chief, said. "We hope this session will clarify that."
Deb Hallberg, marketing events coordinator for Barnes and Thornburg, said there will be a live presentation in Indianapolis as well as the video conference at Ball State and other campuses in Indiana. Hallberg said there will be a moderator at the event to accept feedback from people at the video conferences.
"People can send questions via e-mail," she said, "And the moderator will give speakers the questions."
Hallberg said the program is all about handling emergencies with a cell phone and the technologies involved in emergencies.
From 100 to 200 will people attend in Indianapolis and 60 to 120 will watch remotely, Hallberg said.
The New Economy, New Rules program is a five-year-old series that has events once a month, Hallberg said. She said representatives from Indigital , Indiana for Homeland Security and Reverse 911 will attend in addition to the Ball State affiliates.
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