With four children sleeping nearby, the aerospace engineer wondered what they would do if an earthquake and subsequent tsunami occurred. Sharpe realized the options weren't good, especially in the dark on unfamiliar terrain and with no way of knowing which direction to flee to safety

That night in 2010 was the birth of Survival Capsule, a company dedicated to making personal tsunami survival orbs and bringing them to market. Sharpe placed well in a NASA design contest, pursued the prototype construction, and successfully navigated the years dedicated to bringing the ball to market.

Today, the balls come in sizes that can fit from two to 10 people. They're all made from aircraft-grade aluminium, with a 1.37-meter diameter and one door on the smallest model and 2.4 meters and two doors on the largest. That may sound small, but all units come with standard equipment that includes safety seats with four-point harness systems, a GPS device, air supply, water source and storage space for medicines, food, or other emergency needs.

They're designed for up to five days inside, have marine-safe windows and vent systems, and come in a standard, highly visible emergency orange. Optional features include a solar energy system, additional lighting and music systems, and a powder toilet.

The smallest capsules are meant for personal use, and can be installed in gardens and garages, on an apartment balcony or ideally on a home rooftop. The larger models are meant for commercial use or for municipal agencies, such as hospitals and fire stations, airports, or at marina, harbor, or tourist centers.

Sharpe has sold the first of his capsule systems to Japanese residents, but earlier this year sold his first model in the United States to a Microsoft executive living on the coast of her earthquake-prone region. The products are still expensive – a four-person model costs USD$17,500 – but Survival Capsule hopes that as more of the orange balls get sold, they'll be able to bring the cost down for a wider market.

Sales also may get a boost if they perform as well during other natural disasters, so that people can survive the aftermath of a hurricane and coastal storm surge, flash flooding, or an earthquake. The ball has a ceramic layer beneath its aluminium frame to protect occupants from the heat of fires outside the capsule, and adjusts its "variable depth" position so it cannot be inundated by high water. It's built around a sturdy skeleton frame to withstand impacts with hazards like rocks or floating debris.

"It also provides warmth, safety, and shelter during the initial post-disaster period before rescue crews and relief workers have arrived on the scene," the company explains. So at least theoretically, a family could enter the capsule with a five-day supply of survival needs, ride out a few different kinds of storms and catastrophes, and have the shelter and supplies protected in the first stages of emergency response.

As much as the capsule is focused on saving human lives, it's also suitable for pets in the family mix. For Jeanne Johnson – the first American owner – that means that her beloved Trixie will make the trip, too.