Federal Emergency Management Agency has an app for that

You have seen mobile apps for tracking hurricanes and such, now the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has an app for disaster preparedness.  That’s right, in the event of any type of disaster, nature or otherwise, you can get tips and information from this free app.  The app is for Android powered devices and will help people keep track of what to do in the event they find themselves in the middle of a disaster area.  The app will soon be available for BlackBerry and iPhone devices.  The app has been developed to work even if you do not have any mobile service available.

The new FEMA app allows people to go through a checklist and make sure that everything they will need to survive is in their family emergency kit.  You can list the meeting places that your family has in mind should you be separated from them at any time, review safety tips, maps of shelter areas and recovery areas throughout the United States.  Other information is available to give you direction on what to do before, during and after the disaster and gives you access to the FEMA blog for further up-to-date information.

The FEMA app is just one way that you can get the tips that you need.  If you are not on an Android device, you can still use the text service that FEMA has set up.  With this service you will get up-to-date information to help you through the situation safely.  All that you have to do is text PREPARE to 43362 and you will get signed up for monthly tips.  If you text SHELTER+ your zip code to 43362 you will get the location of shelter areas that are local to you.  Texting DRC+ zip code to 43362 will get you the location of disaster recovery centers in your area.

Over the recent years, many residents and officials have blamed FEMA for the poor response time, especially for Hurricane Katrina back in 2004.  This application and text service is one way they are trying to improve their services and help people live more safely through a disaster.  Because of the FEMA improvements, there is also some other agencies doing the same thing to alert and prepare residents in the event of disaster.  The Department of Health and Human Services and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association are also developing apps.

source: www.mobilebloom.com