10 disaster apps and sites help you plan and recover

Courtesy of iTunes

From what’s happening in Japan, we can learn a thing or two about how to best prepare for natural disasters. And with technology like smart phones making it easy to access the web from wherever, your phone can be a useful tool in emergency preparedness.

There are some very handy apps and sites that can help you prepare, stay updated, and help you figure out where to go and what to do next.

Here are just a few apps that can help you through a disaster:

• QuakeWatch (iPhone) – $0.99 - tracks and sends warnings for earthquakes and allows you to share with others via your social networking sites.
• DisasterAlert (iPhone and Android) – Free – warns you about global active hazards like tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc. and is a mobile version of the PDC
• Disaster Readiness (iPhone and Android) – $1.99 - lists checklists, shelters, supplies, evacuation procedures and other information to help you prepare for and manage during a disaster.
• Shelter View from Red Cross (iPhone) – Free - gives you a map of updated shelter information, including when and where shelters will be available.
• Emergency Radio (iPhone) – $0.99 - is a police scanner app that provides live radio feed from the police and emergency departments to help you stay updated on disasters.

These sites can also help you in an emergency:

• Emergency Zone - Information about various types of emergencies, useful links and how to prepare, react and recover.
• CDC: Emergency Preparedness and Response – provides information about various natural disasters, health and safety concerns and more.
• The American Red Cross’s Prepare.org – offers preparedness resources for kids, your home, pets, at risk populations and others. It also has tips for creating an emergency kit and steps to take during a disaster.
• FEMA – resources for how to plan and prepare, updates about recent emergency and disaster activity, maps, assistance and more.
• Ready America – helps you get a kit, make a plan and stay informed. You’ll also find resources and updates for your community and state.