In the event of a large disaster, it's likely the grid will go down. This will include phone, cell towers, power, everything. So you are probably wondering why even write about disaster apps that are out on the market today. While it is likely all grids will go down, those who are prepared will likely have ways to charge their cell phones. And if Japan is any indication of how governments feel about the best way to communicate to the most people, it is likely they will work hard to get the cell system back up quickly.
One of the free apps on the market that helps after a disaster is called Red Cross Shelter View. When you load the app, you are given a map of all Red Cross shelters that are currently open in the U.S. It also provides the agency, how many people can fit, and the reason why the shelter is available (ie, the event). A link to the Disaster Newsroom allows you to get updated information on what is happening in your area.
FEMA has recently launched an app that assists people in preparing for a disaster before it actually occurs and assisting survivors in claiming benefits after the event has passed and a mess has been left in it's wake. The preparedness section on emergency kits is pretty light. It is intended to be basic to appeal to the largest audience. This preparedness section also does have helpful hints on what to do when specific disasters hit, like earthquake, terrorism, or winter storms. This has more robust instructions and can certainly be useful for those who are not trained for disasters, which is the bulk of our population.
The FEMA app also includes a list of claim centers and active shelters, though I've found it's not as robust as Shelter View. If you are looking for ways to get involved, there is a helpful link to Citizen Corps, an excellent organization that trains and deploys Corps members to help the community with disasters. You must be pre-trained to be deployed. Immediately after a disaster, there are many ways to volunteer, whether it's with money, goods, or hands on, so this app will help point you in the right direction.
If you are interested in keeping abreast of upcoming threats, ELERTS will provide you with ongoing alerts of earthquakes, weather statements and advisories from the National Weather Service, and crowdsourced reports. You must register in order to be able to post your own disaster/emergency report.Hopefully you have taken action to prepare yourself and your family for large and small disasters, including a way to charge your cell phone when there is no power. These apps will help you when they come!
