Smartphone Digital Disaster Prep: Are You Ready?
During an emergency or disaster, the best approach is to be prepared. Know your risks. Make a communication plan with the family. Prepare an emergency supply kit (water, medications, food, flashlights, etc.). Your smartphone can be a great asset to you during disasters, if you plan well.
Mobile phones can give you the a universe of knowledge in a 4″ x 6″ case. You probably always have your cell phone near you, like an extra appendage. Why not brush up on some cell phone disaster tips?
Disaster apps to download: Emergency Preparedness
- FEMA app. Access disaster safety tips, an emergency kit list, emergency meeting location information, and a map with open shelters. Text ANDROID or APPLE to 43362 (4FEMA) and receive a link for download (standard data/message rates apply) or go to the mobile site http://m.fema.gov and click SOCIAL , APP, TEXT MESSAGES then click ANDROID or APPLE.
- Red Cross app. Access information on first aid, disaster risks and shelters. Visit www.redcross.org and click OUR FREE APPS at the bottom (available in English and Spanish).
- ICE (In Case of Emergency) app. Store emergency health information as well as list an emergency contact on the lock screen of your phone so medical technicians can get it as quickly as possible. Search ICE in your app store to download.
- MyFamily app. Keep your family’s health plan and prescriptions up to date on your phone and you’ll have them in an emergency. Visit www.HealthFinder.gov for more information.
- ***PSSST: I downloaded the first two apps. It took 3 minutes max (of course, they are free!). Just do it!
Cell Phone Disaster Tips
- Update your contact list with all the important numbers. In addition to family, friends, neighbors, local authorities, make sure to include medical contacts and pharmacies.
- Remember to text. Disasters often lead to overwhelmed phone lines. Texting can be a much better form of communication.
- Invest in solar or hand crank chargers. Any back-up powering system is good, even car chargers. Also conserve your power by going to airplane mode (cell phone setting) when not in use and reducing screen brightness when in use. Here’s some examples of chargers I found.
Find these Solar and Hand Crank Chargers Here: #, , ,
- Use social media to stay informed.
- FEMA online at their website, on twitter.com/fema and facebook.com/fema
- You can always find valuable tips to help you prepare for emergencies at www.Ready.gov
- Put your important docs within digital reach safely. Scan important records such as household records, medical records, and financial documents, and save the files on a cloud or flash drive. You may also want to password-protect the data you have stored in case of loss or theft. Store the backup records in a safe deposit box or other off-site location.
- Get safety information sent directly to your phone. Below is a list of disaster specific keywords you can use to sign-up for bi-monthly safety tips via text message:
- Hurricanes: text HURRICANE to 43362 (4FEMA)
- Home fires: text FIRE to 43362 (4FEMA)
- Wildfires: text WILDFIRE to 43362 (4FEMA)
- Tornadoes: text TORNADO to 43362 (4FEMA)
- Earthquakes: text EARTHQUAKE to 43362 (4FEMA)
- Winter storms and extreme cold: text WINTER to 43362 (4FEMA)
- Power outages: text BLACKOUT to 43362 (4FEMA)
- Floods: text FLOOD to 43362 (4FEMA)
- General monthly safety tips: text PREPARE to 43362 (4FEMA)
- Please note: If subscribing to more than one list, send a separate text for each disaster type you would like to subscribe to. There is no limit to the number of subscriptions. Sending STOP will automatically unsubscribe you from all our lists.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.
I had no idea that these apps existed. The FEMA app seems like a must have, but I also really like the idea of the MyFamily app. I think my husband is clueless about the meds in our family so it would be good to track it in one place.
Enjoying knowing there are so many good resources out there, even though I haven’t got a cell phone. When disaster strikes, you’ll find me cowering under the bed.
I feel like a total nerd, I had no idea that FEMA had an app! Thank you for sharing these, I am going to go download them now!
OMG… I am so bookmarking this. So helpful. Especially for me — a disorganized mess!
I would definitely download the ICE app. They all sound like they would come in handy though. Thanks for all of the info. Disaster preparedness is something we should all think about.
This is a great post. I had no idea there were so many apps for emergency situations.
I think the only one I would do is ICE since I take medication everyday. That way a hospital could know what I already take.
I would consider downloading ALL of them! Better safe than sorry! I agree with your prep suggestions and we have several of them – I got everyone in the family stocking stuffers last year of prep items such as a handcrank radio, flashlight, those silver potato blankets, fire starters etc. Great post Shelley!
Wow! I loved this post! These are excellent apps & tips. I have already forwarded it to my entire family.
I think all of these! The only thing I know so far in the case of emergency where the kids go from school
Given I live in Kansas, the tornado app would be a good idea. My husband has one on his phone, and it helped him avoid the Norman, OK tornado in 2013. He was driving from Wichita to Dallas and missed it crossing over I-35 (which he was driving on) by 30 miles / 30 minutes. We have tornado sirens in town, but he was on the Interstate. The app was crucial, and I didn’t know there was a tornado near him because my computer warnings were keyed to my geographic location not his!
Those all sound like must-haves. I’m going to check them out because I know we weren’t prepared when we had to evacuate during the Southern California wildfires.
I will be downloading all of them. With Hurricane season, it is smart to keep them on your phone.
I am most interested in the ICE app. I actually worry about my folks, as they have old cell phones that they use only in emergencies…and not well. We’ve looked for new phones for them, but they are resistant. And I think it’s important for them to be connected to us. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the Jitterbug.
I’d consider downloading the ICE app. I already have the designated ICE folks in my phone, but this would give more information. Thank you!
I get these alerts from my iPhone when there is a weather emergency. I didn’t sign up for them, but I get them anyway.
Ok, i am considering ICE now that i have looked at them.
I love this, Shelley, and need to pick and choose which apps I want. I hadn’t considered the idea of doing something digitally about important documents. This post is an excellent public service announcement!
I’ll be looking into the ICE app. I currently have my husband and my parents planned in my phone as ICE so that if we are in an accident someone would hopefully know to call them. I never knew there was an app for that!
What a good reminder. I hadn’t thought about texting but it would’ve helped during many disasters, as phones have been busy busy. Great preparation info that I’m checking out.