Sandy Showcases Need for Emergency Apps and Social Media

 by Holly Shoemaker

As post-tropical storm Sandy continues to affect the East Coast, and people continue to lose power, those affected should remember that a smartphone may make the difference in preparing and understanding the next steps when a natural disaster strikes.

Many apps are available to download that do not require a connection to the Internet. Apps like Disaster Readiness provide guides on how to deal with more than 175,000 situations. The Red Cross provides an app that includes a messaging feature to inform friends and family of people’s safety. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) uses Twitter and blogs to provide guidelines and tips related to emergencies and disaster preparedness. The Red Cross recently reported that people are more likely to use an emergency app along with social media to obtain information during a natural disaster.

Concluding Thoughts

While an app may not be the first item people think of when dealing with a crisis or disaster, they are growing in number and becoming more powerful tools to stay aware and communicate with loved ones. Those who need to make a quick decision, decide on evacuation or learn about next steps may find that an app or text feature provides the best way to stay in tune, especially when limited power options exist.

Mobile Apps Gaining Use During Emergencies and Natural Disasters

by Holly Shoemaker

A recent survey from the American Red Cross showed that twenty percent of people have used mobile apps to access information during emergencies and natural disasters.

Other Numbers at a Glance

The survey consisted of an online poll of 1,017 U.S. adults and phone interviews with an additional 1,018 respondents in June. The America Red Cross found the following:

• While more people still use television, radio and online sources to obtain updates regarding emergency situations, those sources of information have declined since last year. In comparison, the number of people who use mobile applications has increased 18 percent since 2011. 
• Mobile apps tied with those who turn to social media sites for information, and those who use social media are more likely to use apps for disaster or emergency information. Eight percent of the public downloaded apps to assist them in an emergency or disaster. The number significantly increases to 25 percent among users who learned about a disaster or emergency from social media sites.
• One in five Americans have used an app to obtain emergency information.

Concluding Thoughts

The use of mobile apps continues to increase across industries. When it comes to obtaining information for emergency and natural disaster purposes, an app may be just as quick as turning on the TV, especially if people are not close to one. However, work is still needed to communicate the usefulness of these apps. The study showed that respondents do not typically think about downloading an app via an app store during these times. Many apps like a weather forecaster or even an app flashlight are useful in daily situations and will come in handy should an emergency situation arise.