FAQ
Who Needs a RescuePod?
Anyone who feels threatened by a flood or tsunami. If you live in a lowland coastal community or on an island, the threat of a tsunami is very real. If an earthquake triggers a tsunami there are only minutes to spare and if the local infrastructure is damaged or people panic and jam the roads eliminating your chances to get to high ground the RescuePod is a great alternative. The RescuePod is also great for anyone who might be affected by a hurricane or other severe flooding event.
How Does the RescuePod Work?
The RescuePod features a simple, elegant design created with one goal in mind: to maximize your chances of survival during a tsunami or other extreme flooding event. Watch the video below to see how the RescuePod works:
What is the RescuePod Made From?
The body of the RescuePod is constructed using High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), an incredibly strong and versatile material. HDPE is lighter than water, giving HDPE marine vessels their high load capacity and buoyancy. Other features include:
- High tensile strength – Incredibly strong and resistant to punctures
- Viscous, elastic, and strong – Flexible strength help the RescuePod prevent cracks and deformation
- Shock absorbent – HDPE absorbs shocks without taking structural damage
- Corrosion free – Salt and sand will not damage the RescuePod in any way!
- Long Lifecycle – HDPE can last over 100 years without loosing strength
HDPE is the same material used by the military and law enforcement for ballistic shielding and is used in many ocean-going vessels, too.
How Strong is the Pod? How Has it Been Tested?
Our Research and Development team has put the RescuePod through many creative tests. Because we are unable to duplicate a tsunami, we have been forced to improvise. Our team has endured manned hillside rolls and collisions, waterfalls and high impact tests. With the spherical shape and strength of the HDPE the pod can take a substantial impact, one design element of the pod is that it has a very little draft so when it hits an object it will be pushed upward due to its spherical shape and higher draft than the impacting object. We have gone through extensive testing with heavy machinery in attempts to crush the RescuePod and it performed flawlessly.
With all our testing our passengers stayed safe and the HDPE core absorbed and performed as designed.
Will the Pod Sink? What Happens if Water Gets Inside?
The RescuePod is designed to be 100% buoyant. If it were to be pushed under water during a natural disaster, it behaves similarly to a beach ball in a swimming pool. It will pop up to the surface and the ballast will right the RescuePod.
A manual bilge pump inside the pod and water channel below the floor assures you that if the hatch is not properly secured or water that comes through the vents if left open will allowed to be easily removed.
What Happens if your washed out to sea?
If the draft of the rescuepod do not stop it from being washed out to sea, the rescuepod is equipped with a GPS personal locator beacon that is registered to each POD and owner. We have a special category we use for when registering the beacons with NOAA to make it easier for the Coast Guard, Navy and other ships in the area to find you. Each beacon will pinpoint your location within 100 yards for search and rescue operations to find you. Other enhancements that make the pod easier to find is we use International Orange for the color which sets the pod apart from its surroundings and for US based customers we provide Infrared reflective GLINT tape to be seen through cloud cover and with Infrared optics. We also have recommendations for a GPS Marine Radio and satellite phone to aid in rescue.
In addition, your RescuePod includes a 4 gallon water jug and 12 Meals Ready to Eat, which provide on average 1200 calories per meal allowing for 2400 calories for 2 people for 3 days. Also provided are 6 clean waste bags.
Where Do I Store My RescuePod?
If your home or place of business at which the pod is located has a flat roof is built to current earthquake building standards, then this could be the ideal placement location. We also recommend either the side of the house or business.When stored outdoors always keep covered with included Sunbrella marine cover.
Ideally you want to place the pod where it will have the least path of resistance if it is swept inland typically the side of the home placed closer to the inland part of the building. If permanently placed outside of the home we recommend a locking cover and cable lock for the hatch.
How do you get oxygen?
The hatch of the RescuePod is outfitted with a passive ventilation system to circulate air per ISO standards.
Where Can I Buy a RescuePod?
If you’re interested in learning more about the RescuePod or placing an order, call us at 888-318-8281 or contact us using the form below. We can provide more information, answer more of your questions, or arrange for a demo of the RescuePod if you live on the Oregon or Washington Coast.
