Emergency contact during natural disasters
During natural disasters, internet and phone networks fail first. With MeshCore you stay in contact with family and friends – completely independent
Why communication is crucial during natural disasters
The Netherlands is not immune to natural disasters. From the North Sea Flood of 1953 to extreme rainfall and tornadoes in recent years – the climate is becoming more extreme. Floods, severe storms, extreme heat, and even minor earthquakes occur increasingly often.
During natural disasters, communication saves lives. You need to know where your family is, if they are safe, if evacuation is necessary. Emergency services must spread warnings. People must share information. But precisely during disasters, internet, telephony, and mobile networks fail.
Traditional communication like GSM, internet, and landline telephony are vulnerable. MeshCore emergency communication does work – even during the worst natural disasters. LocalMesh helps people in the Netherlands prepare for the unexpected.
Natural disasters in the Netherlands
These natural disasters threaten communication in the Netherlands:
Floods
Heavy rainfall, dike breaches, overflowing rivers. Water damages power supply and telecommunications infrastructure.
Severe Storms
Hurricanes, tornadoes, storm surges. Trees fall on cables, power poles are knocked down, cell towers get damaged.
Extreme Heat
Heat waves cause peak loads on the power grid. Transformers fail, data centers overload, networks crash.
Extreme Cold & Snow
Snowstorms, freezing rain, freezing. Roads impassable, repair technicians cannot reach locations, infrastructure freezes.
Lightning Strikes
Severe thunderstorms with lightning damage cell towers, transformers, and internet cables. Large areas fail.
Ground Subsidence
Subsidence from gas extraction or extreme rainfall. Cables break, cell towers sink, infrastructure becomes disabled.
Why communication fails during natural disasters
During natural disasters, critical infrastructure fails. These are the main reasons why your phone and internet stop working:
⚡ Power Outages
Natural disasters cause major power outages. Cell towers have battery reserves for 4-8 hours, after which the network is completely down. At home you have no power to charge devices.
📡 Damaged Cell Towers
Storms, floods, and lightning damage mobile cell towers. Electronics get wet, towers blow over, cables break. The GSM network fails.
🔌 Broken Cables
Internet and telephony run through underground and overhead cables. Water, trees, floods, and subsidence damage this infrastructure. Connections fail.
📞 Network Overload
When a natural disaster threatens, thousands of people try to call and message simultaneously. The network becomes overloaded and crashes – even before physical infrastructure is damaged.
MeshCore: Communication that withstands disasters
MeshCore is a decentralized mesh network that works via LoRa radio technology. It requires no internet, mobile networks, power supply, or central infrastructure. Perfect for emergency communication during natural disasters.
🌊 Water-Resistant
LoRa radio devices can be made waterproof (IP67/IP68 enclosures). They keep working in wet conditions and even after submersion.
🔋 Long Battery Life
LoRa devices last days to weeks on a single battery. Even without power supply you stay reachable during prolonged disasters.
📡 Long Range
LoRa radio reaches up to ~10+ km in open areas. During natural disasters you can communicate over large distances without intermediate infrastructure.
🛡️ Robust & Reliable
No central infrastructure means no single point of failure. If one device fails, the network automatically finds another route.
Why MeshCore during natural disasters
Completely Independent
No internet, no power grid, no provider needed. Works even during complete infrastructure failure.
Quick to Deploy
Devices are active within seconds. No boot time, no connection setup, always reachable.
Community Network
The more people participate, the stronger the network. Together we build a reliable emergency network in the Netherlands.
One-Time Investment
No subscription costs. One-time purchase from €50. No monthly expenses.
Private & Secure
End-to-end encryption for private messages. Nobody can read along, even during interception.
Location Sharing
Share GPS coordinates via mesh network. Crucial for evacuations and emergency services.
Practical applications during natural disasters
What you can do with MeshCore during a natural disaster:
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Reach family: Check if your loved ones are safe and where they are located
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Coordinate evacuation: Share evacuation routes and safe locations with your network
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Request help: Send emergency messages if you are injured or need assistance
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Share location: Share GPS coordinates with emergency services or family
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Receive updates: Stay informed about developments via the network
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Neighborhood coordination: Organize with neighbors to help each other
Frequently asked questions
Does MeshCore really work during every natural disaster?
MeshCore is very robust but not indestructible. If your device is physically damaged or has no power, it won't work. But as long as your device is intact and has power (battery or solar panel), the network works – regardless of what happens to internet or GSM.
How far does the signal reach during natural disasters?
In open areas up to ~10+ km, in urban areas ~1 km. During natural disasters the range can be even greater if obstacles (buildings, trees) are swept away. With repeaters you extend the range further.
Can I call emergency services (112) via MeshCore?
No, MeshCore has no integration with emergency services (112). It is intended for communication between citizens. For emergency calls to 112 you must use other means (satellite phone, CB radio with emergency frequencies).
How many people use MeshCore in the Netherlands?
The network is growing fast in the Netherlands. We don't provide exact numbers, but there are active users and repeaters in the Randstad and other regions. Check the network map for current coverage.
How long does the battery last during a disaster?
Depending on usage: 3-7 days with normal use, longer in power-saving mode. With a power bank or solar panel you can keep the device operational almost indefinitely.
Do I need technical knowledge to use MeshCore?
No, the basics are simple: turn on device, pair via Bluetooth to your smartphone, send messages. Advanced functions like setting up a repeater require more knowledge, but are not necessary for normal use.
Prepare for natural disasters
Natural disasters are unpredictable, but preparation is possible. With MeshCore you have a reliable means of communication that works when other systems fail.