Hurricane Awareness | redcrossphillyblog

With Hurricane Isaac on its way, you can now keep track of your loved ones who are in disasters path! The American Red Cross released its new official hurricane app for iPhone and Android users. And while it won’t be able to stop the awful conditions, it will help you be prepared with easy to understand and follow step-by-step instructions. So, before you rush out to the grocery store for eggs and bread, I would suggest downloading this FREE app for preloaded checklists, tracker maps, and alerts.

Here’s a look at what the new Red Cross hurricane app looks like

Fortunately, I have not experienced extreme hurricane conditions in my lifetime, but I have loved ones who live in areas more prone to such conditions than Philadelphia, like Florida and New Jersey. This app sends you real-time hurricane alerts for your area, or any location that you choose. These alerts are sent straight to your phone as soon as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issues them, even if the app is closed. For each location you set to monitor, the app sends you hurricane warnings, as well as alerts for tropical storms and floods.

What I think is great about this app is the toolkit located in the top left corner. It comes with emergency tools like a flashlight, strobe light, alarm and an “I’m Safe” feature. This allows you to connect with others to let them know you are ok in the face of danger with only the touch of a button. You can personalize your message beforehand and share via Twitter, Facebook, SMS, and email.

You’d be amazed how the littlest preparations could save you from a lot of grief. Some of these hurricane preparedness tips are ones that I would never think of, like filling your car’s gas tank or putting your refrigerator on its coldest setting – so if you lose power, the contents will stay cooler longer. In addition to preparation pointers, this app has information on what to do immediately before, during and after the hurricane hits.

There is also a feature that lets users map locations and shelter details across the United States. You can zoom in on local area and view details on each shelter, such as which agency is managing the shelter, its capacity and current population, the disaster event and the specific shelter address or location. It is quick and easy.

This app is useful even when you’re not necessarily faced with an alert or warning at the moment. Prepare for disaster by testing your hurricane knowledge and preparedness. There are three quiz categories (history, knowledge and prepare) in which you can earn achievements and share them with your friends. And if you are particularly interested in hurricane history, you can also look back 150 years and see how many hurricanes have hit your area. In Philadelphia, we’ve experienced 34 hurricanes – the top speed being 135 mph!

The hurricane app is the second in a series of preparedness apps the Red Cross is releasing. Several weeks ago, the Red Cross unveiled a first-aid app that has been very helpful to me in providing tips for treating major and minor medical emergencies. Needless to say I was excited to add another preparedness app to use in case of disaster. (Not to mention, many preparedness tips and tactics can easily translate to other disasters.)

Take a look at this video for more information:

(download here for iPhone and here for Android)

-Kelsey Crater

The Boy Scouts had it right: “Always be prepared.” There’s nothing worse than being caught off- guard, especially when it comes to natural disasters.

With the Atlantic Hurricane Season coming up, the National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) has predicted 9-15 named storms- 1-3 of which are predicted to be considered “major.” Although Southeastern PA isn’t necessarily an area of high Hurricane activity, we have been hit very hard by storms caused by distant hurricanes in the past that have caused some serious damage.

An act of nature can be absolutely devastating without the proper precautions and plans set into place. This is all well and good, but how do you even start preparing for something so potentially dangerous? When preparing, ask yourself two important questions: “What supplies do I need?” and “What should I do during the storm?”

If a hurricane is predicted in your area, be sure you are stocked up on the following items:

Water. At least a 3-day supply. One gallon per person, per day.
Food- At least a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy to prepare food.
Flashlight
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
Extra batteries
First aid kit
Medications. At least a 7-day supply.
Personal medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane, etc.)
Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies.)

Multi-purpose tool
Sanitation and personal hygiene items
Cell phone with chargers
Family and emergency contact information
Extra cash
Emergency blanket
Map(s) of the area
Baby supplies if needed (bottles formula, baby food, diapers)
Pet supplies if needed (Collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
Tools/supplies for securing your home
Extra set of car keys and house keys
Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
Rain gear
Insect repellent and sunscreen
Camera for photos of damage.

If a hurricane strikes the area, it is vital that you follow these suggestions to stay safe:

Liston to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).
Check you disaster supplies and replace or restock as needed
Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture, etc.)
Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you do not have hurricane shutters, close and board up all windows and doors with ply wood.
Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.

Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.
Fill your car’s gas tank
Talk with members of your household and create an evacuation plan. Planning and practicing our evacuation plan minimizes confusion and fear during the event.
Learn about your community’s hurricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs as required and make plans for your pets to be cared for.
Evacuate if advised by authorities. Be careful to avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.

In addition to your personal planning, the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania is conducting a Hurricane Readiness Drill on Saturday morning, June 2 at Avon Grove High School, where a Red Cross shelter was located during Hurricane Irene last year.

During the drill, several local agencies, including the Chester County Department of Emergency Services and the Red Cross, will train people critical disaster relief skills, like sheltering, food distribution, providing basic medical needs, and decision making. The training will also include what to do with pets.

We know you just took the time to read all of that. And to help you remember (because you probably don’t want to read it again), here’s a video with an overview of what you should do to plan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7zu0N-iDT0

Social media will be heavily utilized during a major disaster like a hurricane, people will be able to track what is happening by following @redcrossphilly and #HurricaneDrill on Twitter. This tool will be incredibly valuable, but we must recognize that the reliability of this service depends completely upon the severity of the event. If this should happen, a short-wave radio is the best way to receive information about what is happening.

—redcrossphillyblog

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