Are you ready for the next big storm? The 2011 hurricane season is forecast by NOAA to be quite active, with 18 named storms, 10 hurricanes and possibly 6 major hurricanes. So you want to know where the action is and whether you’re in the line of fire. Your smartphone could be your most valuable tool during or after a hurricane, with dozens of apps available to provide crucial information. Here’s a video of my segment from ABC’s World News Now. Full details on the apps below the video.
[You can find the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8cvTx4AHMk.]
Hurricane HD $3.99 iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Hurricane lets you track storms, moving radar and satellite imagery coming from the National Hurricane center. Tropical bulletins, forecasts, and advisories for Atlantic and Pacific Basin
You can watch video updates for storms currently underway or forming
Follow data and track of past storms like Andrew, Hugo and Katrina
*Atlantic Basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf Of Mexico, Caribbean and surrounding areas.
*Northeast Pacific Basin includes the west coast of North America – US west coast, Mexico, Central America and Hawaii
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hurricane/id291430598?mt=8
IMAP WEATHER RADIO $9.99 iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Android soon
Nothing beats having a weather radio for the most up-to-date info, and you can’t always have that with you. But you do usually have your phone, so having this app gives you all the tracking info, plus a built-in weather radio. Add in up to 5 locations where you are and where you’re headed, or where family members are. With iMapWeather Radio you will receive critical voice and text alerts on life-threatening weather events. The app provides an early warning to help individuals and families seek safety, even in the middle of the night.
Follow me feature: reads your GPS location and delivers alerts to you no matter where you are without you having to add the location.
The audio feature not only gives you the latest weather, but provides audio alerts in the form of beeps followed by a brief description of the alert type. The audio alerts you to the information you need when you can’t stop to look at the phone, like when you’re driving. Furthermore, you can always listen to the alerts and forecast for your area at any time.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/imapweather-radio/id413511993?mt=8#
The Weather Channel iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, Android Free
The Weather Channel has fully customizable weather maps, animated radar maps, detailed weather conditions and forecasts, severe weather alerts, and a notification bar with the current temperature and severe weather alert indicator.
In addition to the popular location-based local video forecasts, the video section now includes the “must see 6” videos each day from a national collection.
It allows consumers to get weather forecasts for their pinpointed location or search by city, ZIP code, street address or landmark. The app also includes interactive maps that are fully customizable and feature the functionality of Google Maps. Customers can decide to display layers such as radar, clouds, UV index, rainfall and more.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.weather.Weather&hl=en
Global Alert Network (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Android Blackberry) FREE
The Global Alert Network delivers Hands-Free national traffic and weather alerts.
The Global Alert network is a location aware network platform that automatically broadcasts audible hands free alerts to mobile devices. You choose to subscribe to weather or traffic alerts, which are geo-targeted to your location.
The application running on the phone keeps track of phone’s location, not the Global Alert Network servers. When an alert is created, the alert zone is downloaded to the phone and the phone makes the determination if you are affected by the alert and whether the alert should be played.
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/13563?lang=en
http://www.globalalertnetwork.com/
Eton ARCPT300W American Red Cross Axis Self-Powered Safety Hub with Weather Radio and USB Cell Phone Charger $70
http://www.shopetoncorp.com/detail/ETO+ARCPT300W
A self-powered device that’s designed to prepare for the worst of situations
The American Red Cross ARCPT300W Axis Self-Powered Safety Hub has everything you’d need in the event of an emergency, power outage or natural disaster. It has a variety of features that will help you whether you’re on the road or at home without any power. It can be hand cranked or plugged into a laptop or AC adapter via mini-USB (included) or powered by 3 AAA batteries (not included).
The Axis is equipped with an AM/FM/NOAA weather radio. You can tune into a variety of AM/FM stations and also 7 preset NOAA weather channels. To access these stations select the AM, FM or WB (weather band) channel 1-7 with the band selector switch.
National Hurricane Center
Tips on hurricane preparedness, storm surge, marine safety, archives so you can track past accuracy
Forecasting models to storm names
The American Red Cross has an app called Shelter View that tells you what shelters are open and how close they are to capacity.
With the DisasterAssistance.gov app you can locate and apply for relief.
HHS’s app lets you search for a health center for emergency services.
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