Yes I know, you've read the blog title and thought "why would she be surprised that Katrina caused a spike in search?" Well...I'm not surprised by the spike in hurricane related searches, but I am surprised at the data that came through in the latest Shopping.com consumer demand index.

Apparently, all the news and stories of the problems people had calling out to friends and family, or even worse, calling out to fire and rescue crews, has driven online interest in alternate forms of communication. The latest Shopping.com CDI report shows an increase of 942% in the number of searches for "satellite phones."

Think that through for a second and it makes perfect sense. Satellite phones operate independently of things like phone lines and cell towers. They work even when nothing else does. It's how many reporters managed to get news out when all other lines of communications were down.

The problems faced by Katrina victims have clearly sparked a realization in the minds of searchers that may also live in disaster prone areas. Those cell phones might not be the best thing to pack into your disaster kit. Not when a satellite phone might be affordable. Of course those searchers are going to find out that satellite phones tend to start at around $400 (plus service fees) and can range upwards into the thousands of dollars. Maybe not the most affordable solution for the masses, eh?

What the data really shows though is the need for small businesses to stay one step ahead of their customers. Chances are high that the first few satellite phone companies that figure out a way to properly promote themselves in the wake of Katrina have likely seen a strong sales surge. While I'm not one to promote taking advantage of tragedies for profit, I do think that companies need to work hard to anticipate events that might lead to a sudden interest in their product.