Category Archive: Emergency apps

Disaster Reporter Added to the FEMA App

October 1, 2013

FEMA recently added a photo-sharing feature to the FEMA app. With “Disaster Reporter,” people can upload GPS tagged photos from a disaster area and submit them to a public map. This feature allows people, including first responders and community members, to share real-time disaster-related information.

According to an article in Mashable, all submitted photos will go through an approval process to ensure images are relevant, authentic and don’t disclose any personal information.

 

 

 

The FEMA app is free and currently available for download in the Google Play store or the iTunes App store. You can view FEMA’s disaster reporter map on the FEMA website.

 

Of course you hope to never see a photo of your home (or anyone’s home!) on the FEMA disaster map. However, if disaster should strike your community, there are preventative steps you can take to mitigate flood damage, such as installing flood vents. Flood vents can help reduce structural damage to your home by equalizing internal and external floodwater pressure. To learn more about our FEMA compliant flood vents, contact us.

Using Technology to Prepare for Disasters

July 9, 2013

Jason Lindesmith, Social Media Lead for Public Affairs, FEMA, recently blogged about how technology has helped him get through several disasters, including Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy. In his post, he reveals the technology tools he found most useful.

1. Staying powered up

Lindesman found that one of his best tools was a weather radio, especially when his power was knocked out for several days. His model had small solar panels and a hand crank for charging as well as multiple ports for charging other devices. Cranking his radio for 1-2 minutes would give him a 20-30 minute charge on his cell phone.

2. Useful emergency apps

Lindesmith particularly liked the Red Cross Hurricane app, the FEMA app and Microsoft HelpBridge. But don’t wait for a storm to hit before downloading them. Because Lindesmith had downloaded the apps well in advance, he was able to access all previously downloaded safety information, even when cell networks were unavailable.

3. Access to information is key

During Hurricane Irene, Lindesmith found himself relying heavily on social media to get the latest updates from towns, cities, school districts, local elected officials, local media, the department of transportation and others.

But he discovered that non-techie approaches were equally helpful. He learned a lot about the local situation just from talking to neighbors. He suggests getting to know your neighbors now so you can more easily share information should a disaster occur.

While you’re getting technology ready, don’t forget to take preventative steps to mitigate damage to your home. Flood vents are a great way to reduce the risk of structural damage when flood waters rise. Our FEMA compliant food vents are constructed in the U.S.A. For more information about Flood Solutions flood vents, contact us.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

June 25, 2013

A number of systems exist to alert people to natural or man-made disasters, such as the NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System (which broadcasts over TV and radio). One system you may be less familiar with is the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system, which allows local, state and federal authorities to send text messages to WEA-enabled cell phones within range of a severe weather event or other emergency.

You don’t need to register to receive WEA notifications, but your phone does have to be WEA capable and your wireless carrier must participate in the program. To learn if your mobile device can receive WEA alerts, contact your carrier or visit the CTIA website.

FEMA recently launched a public service advertising campaign to raise awareness of the service. The WEA system has only been in place for two years and has never been publicized through advertising before. To learn more about the WEA system, visit the Ready.gov website. This New York Times article also provides a good overview.

While alert systems are an important way to notify people of imminent disasters, they probably won’t give you enough time to get home and take steps to limit damage. In severe cases, you may be advised to leave the area immediately. That’s why it’s important to do what you can to mitigate damage from floods and other disasters well before they occur.

Flood Solutions FEMA compliant flood vents are a proven way to help prevent structural damage to your home from flooding. In addition, Flood Solutions flood vents are always in the open position, so you don’t have to put yourself at risk by rushing home to open them as flood waters rise. To learn more about Flood Solutions flood vents, contact us.

Mobile Apps for Hurricane Tracking, Flashlights

December 29, 2011

In an earlier blog post, we talked about FEMA’s new app for mobile devices that gives emergency preparedness tips and locations of FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers. There are plenty of other great apps that provide support in emergency situations.

If a major storm is heading your way, you can use an app to track its progress. Hurricane Tracker is an app compatible with iPhones, iPod Touch, and iPads. It has maps, storm status push updates, and audio and video updates. Similarly, Android users can check out Hurricane Software which also provides up-to-date hurricane information.

A great app for emergency and non-emergency situations are flashlight apps for mobile devices. There are plenty to choose from, but Universal Flashlight (for Apple devices) and Droid Light (for Android devices) are among the more popular ones. These apps are great when you find yourself suddenly without power and need to find your way in the dark. Whether a storm has taken out the power line or you simply can’t find your glasses in a dark hotel room, this app is an easy one to load and forget about – until you need it.

None of these apps will be of much use if you can’t keep them charged. Fortunately, there are plenty of emergency chargers on the market to keep smart phones and tablets going when power is out. This is a great item to add to your home emergency kit!

If your area is at risk of flooding, flood vents are a proven way to help maintain the structural integrity of your home. We have a complete line of FEMA compliant flood vents for every application. Contact Flood Solutions to learn more.

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