Crisis communication system and method utilizing group-based message distribution

摘要

A system and method of crisis communication includes a plurality of crisis communication points (CCPs) located in geographic dispersed areas unlikely to all be affected by a single disaster, and which are arranged to store messages left by individuals affected by a crisis for retrieval at any time by interested parties who call the CCP. Each individual associated with a subscriber, including family members, friends, and associates, has an individual box accessible through a telephone number coupled with a personal identifier and an optional individual or group password, and may (a) record a message, the message being distributed to all individual boxes in a group, and/or (b) play back messages from other box holders. Any messages recorded in one of the call boxes may be automatically distributed to all other voice mail boxes in the group of personal boxes associated with a contact list or, optionally, limited to selected personal boxes. Notification of next-of-kin may be facilitated by providing subscribers with a card instructing officials/medical personnel to contact a CCP and leave a message for automatic distribution to next-of-kin personal boxes.