Not a good ending to the story.
Cell phones are not always reliable.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/21/snowstorm.death.ap/index.html

There's a lot more to the story. This is a local story for me, so I can share some more information. First, a link to the story in tonight's Omaha World-Herald, the local newspaper.

The cell phones were plenty reliable. The couple was able to call 911 to report their pickup truck had gone off the road and into the ditch. Unfortunately, they weren't quite sure where they were at, so they couldn't tell police where to find them. The 911 dispatcher told them to _stay_in_the_truck_!

Sadly, they didn't follow directions. Then went for a walk in a snowstorm. And they got lost, worse. They called 911 a couple of more times, and got through each time. Unfortunately, they were in an area where they could hit cell phone towers located in three counties. And they didn't do a good job of telling each of the operators they spoke to that they had previously spoken to operators at a different 911 center. When I call 911 I know enough to ask to be forwarded to the 911 center that handles my county.

The police found the truck in sufficient time for them to have been rescued safely. But they weren't there. The man and woman were found by searchers (separated by about half a mile) a couple of days later.

The autopsy found evidence of enough marijuana and methamphetimine in their system to impair their judgement. Sadly, they were not equipped to survive. Instead, they're evidence of evolution in action.

My wife and I discussed the utility of carrying a cheap GPS receiver in each Jeep, so we could alwas report exact coordinates to searchers. We're still talking about it.

Dennis

Sad. Thanks for the additional information.
As Paul Harvey would say, "Now, you know the rest of the story."

Thanks for the update.

You wrote:
"When I call 911 I know enough to ask to be forwarded to the 911 center that handles my county."

Can you elaborate on the reasons for this?

Thanks, Vince

Norad45,

I'd be glad to. I live in Bellevue, Nebraska (in Sarpy county), just South of Omaha, Nebraska (in Douglas county). In the metropolitan area the transition from city to city and county to county is seamless. If you don't know which streets are the boundary line you'd have little way of knowing which county you are in.

The cellular telephone network for the metro area doesn't distinguish between the two counties, at least it didn't a few years ago, that may have (probably has) changed. In any event, in my limited experience all calls to 911 were routed to the Douglas county 911 center. If I wanted to report a problem in Sarpy county they had to forward my call. I learned (very quickly) that if I called 911 from a cell phone that I should ask for the 911 center which served my location.

I first ran into that problem on a cross country trip about 15 years ago. I was driving across eastern Iowa, near the Illinois border. I called 911 to report a traffic hazard and the call was answered at an Illinois 911 center, they explained that I needed an Iowa office and transferred my call to the correct center. I got the impression it was a common occurence.

I suspect its more of a problem in 'border' areas. It's likely that the cellular system is better equipped to route calls to the proper center based on the location of the servicing cell tower than it used to be. But when I can drive North from Bellevue, Nebraska (Sarpy cty) through Omaha, Nebraksa (Douglas cty) and over the Missouri river into Council Bluffs Iowa (Pottawatamie cty) in the span of 10-15 minutes I'm not sure the cellular system will ever be capable of providing total coveragle (no blackout areas) as well as 100% accuracy in determining which 911 center should be servicing my call.

Dennis

From previous experience, I know that cell-phone location methods are moving fast towards a more accurate data interpretation . . . , however, I had no idea of the complications that you are explaining here.

I'm still surprised/shocked as to how the events led to this couple's story . . .

Thank you for expanding on this, Skater & DennisTheMenace.

Regards

Time to stick the strobe light on top of the truck, lay down reflective markers on the road, whip out the wool blanket and get cozy. Honking the horn on purpose.... now and then <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Alas their plan was to "light up some more whacky tobaccy and re-enact an arctic crossing" with predictable results

Thank you for your detailed reply. It sounds like this is one of those instances where a can of sterno and a book of matches would have been more valuable than the cell phone. Of course, nothing beats a clear head. But your insight could prove to be invaluable; if I am ever driving across the plains (a distinct possibility) I will be mindful of your warning. I was not aware of the danger before. Thanks again.

Regards, VInce

Better yet, have your local city PD emergency number programmed into your phone, as well as the sheriff dept. number for your county and counties that you frequent.