Be Prepared with Red Cross Apps

Follow the Boy Scout motto and be prepared with a variety of free apps for iPhone and Android from your American Red Cross.

Tornadoes

Although there have been few tornadoes this year, meteorologists expect their occurrence to increase through May. Help protect your business’s most precious asset—your employees—with the new Tornado app from the American Red Cross available for the iPhone and Android phones.

Even if this free app is closed, it will still alert you when the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) issues a tornado warning, which will help protect you and your employees even if out on a job. Make sure to allow the Red Cross to use your current location and push alerts to get the most effective use from the app, which can provide you with real time alerts, and information on open Red Cross shelters.

Tornado gives you step-by-step advice on what to do right before and during a tornado, including a check list, what to do after the tornado has passed, recovery information, and how to be prepared for a tornado. It also allows you to test your tornado readiness, and see historical tornado activity in your area.

Lloyd’s of London produced a report saying that, “although tornadoes occur across the world, the US experiences more tornadoes than any other country. Each year, there is an average of 1,200 tornadoes which kill at least 60 people, injure 1,500 more and cause over $400 million in damage.”

While Tornado Alley encompasses Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska, the report says that tornadoes have been documented in every state. “Obviously, states have different land sizes. Considered on a per unit area basis, the state which has the highest number of tornadoes is Florida. The highest total number of strong tornadoes is in Texas, however on a per unit area basis it is higher in Oklahoma.

Hurricanes

Although tornadoes can occur during any time of the year, peak tornado season winds down in June just in time for hurricane season.

The “Hurricane by American Red Cross” app allows you to do similar things as the tornado app such as test your readiness, view the history of hurricanes in your area, and get step-by-step instructions on what to do before, during, and after a hurricane. It also allows you to track the hurricane, and any subsequent flooding or tornadoes that occur.

The app also helps you find Red Cross shelters in your area and to get prepared with a hurricane toolkit.

Earthquakes

If you live along fault lines, then the earthquake app will help you and your employees. This app will alert you when an earthquake or tsunami occurs, or when warnings have been issued. You can let your loved ones know that you are safe even if there is a power outage.

Like the other apps, it gives you step-by-step instructions on what to do before, during, and after the event as well as historical information on earthquakes in your area. It also informs you about what to do about food and drinking water when your area has been impacted by floods.

Wildfires

Last year, nearly 70,000 wildfires were reported, threatening homes and businesses and covering more than 9 million acres according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

“Wildfire by American Red Cross” alerts you about active wildfires and fire weather warnings in your area. The app gives you the ability to inform friends and family that you are safe; gives step-by-step instructions on what to do before, during, and after; and gives historical information about wildfires in your area.

First Aid

The Boy Scout motto is “be prepared.” This first aid app allows you to do just that, giving you helpful instructions on what to do in a variety of searchable situations. “First Aid by American Red Cross” is integrated with 9-1-1 so you can call EMS from the app. It has videos and animations to help you learn first aid and provides safety tips for different situations. The preloaded content means that you don’t have to have a connection to access the potentially life-saving content.

Story by Jennifer Taylor