A U.S. company has designed a “survival capsule” to help protect individuals against tsunami events, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and storm surges.
The capsule is designed as a spherical ball and referred to as a personal safety system (PSS).
Watch the “survival capsule” in action here:
Survival Capsule, LLC, located near Seattle, said that product is a disaster solution that allows people to be more in control of their survival in an emergency situation.
The capsules, which are available in five different sizes, cannot be inundated by water levels rising too high and offers warmth, safety and shelter during the initial post-disaster period.
Capsules are available in sizes to accommodate anywhere from two to ten people, and will withstand a natural disaster, sharp object penetration, heat exposure, blunt object impact and rapid deceleration.
US company creates first ever purpose built Tsunami Survival Capsulehttps://t.co/7jUHXo9gbX pic.twitter.com/M08TkwbwRb
— Survival Capsule (@SurvivalCapsule) March 2, 2016
The smaller capsules are suitable for family homes, while the larger capsules are intended more for municipal buildings, businesses, hospitals, airports, schools and general public safe havens.
The smallest capsule sells for $13,500 and the prices increase depending on size and added features.
The standard features include basic lighting, harness straps, storage space, water storage, GPS, air vents, air supply tanks and a small window.
The additional features that are optional include surround sound music, added storage, a dry powder seat toilet, additional lighting, a solar panel, extra insulation, a rooftop tether system and color options.
Julian Sharpe first envisioned this notion while spending the weekend at Cannon Beach, Oregon, with his family.
When he returned to work, Julian shared his idea with his colleague, Scott Hill.
The pair worked to develop a functional design concept and then entered the design into the 2011 NASA Tech Brief Innovation Contest.
The capsule was voted 9th out of about 350 entries.
The support and media attention spurred them to continue the concept and develop it to where it is today.
So far, one of the small capsules was purchased by Jeanne Johnson on Jan. 18, 2017, a 55-year-old Microsoft employee, the Seattle Times reported.
Johnson has been experimenting with the quickest way to climb in, fasten the hatch and buckle up, something she says she is not looking forward to.
“It’s going to be terrible. But it’s better than the alternative,” Johnson said.
