An idea.. Prepaid cell phones/phone cards?

I've been reading a lot about suggestions to create searchable online databases so people can reach their families and so forth.  I've been thinking.. What could be simpler than making it possible for people to call home themselves and to be in touch with family as they are moved around to various shelters?  

Phone companies give away prepaid cell phones for free all the time.  Most everyone knows how to use them.  They can't be that expensive to manufacture and this is an emergency, after all.  So.. What if we were to contact cell phone companies and ask them to donate prepaid cell phones?  Sound like a good idea?  Surely Verizon/Nokia/etc. can afford it.  (How will they be charged?  Will this create a problem or not?  Are there models with long lasting batteries?)  

UPDATE: More on this idea. I'm mostly thinking of people evacuated to other areas outside the zone hit by the hurricane, Baton Rouge, Houston, Dallas, etc. There won't be any problem with cell phone towers, I'd imagine. Two, wouldn't it be useful in the longer term? Give each adult a cell phone, take down their name and the cell phone number, make up a database or directory so that others could find them if need be. You have to figure soon enough people will be moving around the cities, staying with family or friends, will be somewhat scattered with no fixed address and hard to get in touch with - ie agencies trying to get information to them as they move toward rebuilding will have a hard time doing so. This way they could call or send announcements via voice mail message to everyone in the directory.

•  great idea..what about those calling cards?

  it might be hard to distribute phones....but if you get a card that you charge up with $$ then you can just give people the card# and PIN so they can make long distance calls

  but...phone companies must have a million ways to make things happen too

  by RumsfeldResign on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:39:44 PM PDT

•  Good idea!

  But many, if not all, the cell phone repeater towers were  knocked down during the hurricane. I think that's why some cell phone reports have been so erratic from the reporters on site.

  by RElland on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:46:18 PM PDT

•  Cell Towers Are Down

  People with cell phones are having trouble making phone calls because there are no cells. People willing to spend money on a phone call are having trouble finding a phone.

  by Reino on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:47:03 PM PDT

•  useful when they're evacuated

  I think I read that the phone companies were setting up phones at the Astrodome for free 15 minute calls. I don't know what the other evacuation centers are offering.  It's a good idea.  The Red Cross will be giving tolietry bags to everybody.  Could put a calling card in every one.  They'd have to have phones available though.  The cell phone idea there would probably be better.

  by glynis on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 07:52:39 PM PDT

•  air america has set up free voice mail

  See:

  http://www.airamericaradio.com/katrina/voicemailinfo.html

  I think the cell phones and stuff like that for refugees are nice but of secondary importance to stuff needed for immediate survival.  

  Cell service is being restored rather quickly though.  Yes, towers are out, but there are mobile base stations ("cell on wheels") deployed to the area.  

  Comms are much less of a problem than food, water, basic hygiene, etc.  And all those stem from what looks more and more like beyond simple incompetence and well into malevolent obstructionism on the part of Bushco, to make sure that this thing unfolds as badly as it possibly can.

  by clyde on Fri Sep 02, 2005 at 09:08:35 PM PDT