July 9, 2026 / 9:36 AM EDT
/ CBS News
Add CBS News on Google
A French startup company has unveiled a prototype for a survival device that it says can save people from tsunamis and severe flooding. The prototype was revealed at a technology conference in Paris earlier this month. The company, Lifepods, says it believes the device will help save lives minutes before disaster strikes, when evacuation is no longer a safe option. LifePods CEO Cedric Choffat said emotional images of the aftermath of the world's deadliest tsunamis, such as in the Indian Ocean in 2004 and off the coast of Japan in 2011, prompted him to consider how a purpose-built survival capsule could work. Even as better forecasting and preparedness have led to fewer fatalities from tsunamis and floods over time, extreme weather events like the historic central Texas floods in 2025 have still wreaked destruction. So how could he help save lives? "That question became the starting point of LifePods," Choffat told CBS News. That led to the creation of the W-01. The device is essentially a floating fortress, with enough room for up to four adults and four children to fit inside, albeit snugly. The capsule is equipped with harnesses and can broadcast an emergency distress signal until rescuers arrive. There is room under seats for essential supplies like food, water and medicines. A GPS tracker can be installed to ensure rescuers can find the pod.
