The third version of the Site Assessment of Tornado Threat (SATT 3.0) software is now available.V
ORTEK LLCFor the latest information concerning our current projects, please refer to our press releases.
Last Updated on: December 28, 2009
The third version of the Site Assessment of Tornado Threat (SATT 3.0) software is now available.
Each year hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage and approximately fifty to one hundred fatalities are caused by tornadoes, the most violent of all forms of atmospheric storms. In recent years, by means of Doppler radar, considerable success has been achieved in detecting tornadic storms, but such radar systems cannot determine when a tornado is actually in contact with the ground. As a result, the false alarm rate for tornados, based on the number of Tornado Warnings issued by the National Weather Service (NWS), is currently 80%. At the present time, actual sighting by storm spotters or other observers is the only accepted method for detecting when a tornado is on the ground. Based on the Seismic Detection of Tornadoes (SDT) concept, VorTek LLC possesses the capability to develop a series of networks in tornado-prone cities to remedy this situation by providing a longer-range, more reliable method of detecting tornados on the ground.
VorTek was formed as an offshoot of Engineering Analysis Inc. (EAI) where the original research and development concerning the SDT concept was carried out. In accordance with Public Law 106-50, VorTek is classified as a service-disabled veteran-owned business. The primary business interest of VorTek will be the manufacture, distribution, and sale of SDT products and services in tornado-prone areas. In each such area VorTek will install a network of SDT devices commonly referred to as "Moles" to sense the seismic wave produced by a tornado. The Moles will be connected to a Data Control Center (DCC) via a communications link. The DCC will collect, analyze, and distribute the data received from the Moles. In cases where a seismic wave is determined to be produced by a tornado, an alarm message will be transmitted by means of a subcarrier frequency over a local television or radio station broadcast signal. This message will activate the alarm in the SDT receiver devices (known as "Owls") installed in the residences of subscribers. VorTek will offer the Owls for sale to the general public along with an annually renewable subscription service to receive the alarm signal.
A total of 42 tornado-prone regions have been identified as the initial market, representing a total of 18 million subscribers. For the average tornado-prone city within two years, based on a detailed cost analysis, with a market penetration rate of 10% of the residences, the program will prove profitable with all initial investment recovered within three or four years.
For start-up capital a two-step investment process is anticipated with $330,000 sought in the first year and $920,000 in the second year.
As of January 1, 2010 VorTek has transferred all tornado-related operations back to its parent company, Engineering Analysis Inc., and has ceased doing business in Alabama.
A description of the Company is provided in Section 2.0, followed by a discussion of products and services in Section 3.0. A summary of the market analysis which has been performed is presented in Section 4.0 while a description of the implementation strategy is provided in Section 5.0. A management summary is presented in Section 6.0 and a financial summary in Section 7.0. A summary of the investment opportunity is presented in Section 8.0 while a business exit strategy is provided in Section 9.0.