App screenshot
When someone mentions preparedness, what do you picture? A first-aid kit? Stacks of canned food and cases of bottled water? A family holed up in a bunker? You’re probably not picturing apps on your phone.
You already likely rely on your phone daily, but a phone can be essential in an emergency. (Yes, you can use your phone as a flashlight, but I suggest a headlamp instead–it’s hands-free and has replaceable batteries!) It’s unlikely you’ll have reliable Internet access in a serious disaster, so it’s worth thinking about getting some emergency apps on there—and about how your phone might be useful even if “offline.”
There’s a whole world of useful-in-a-disaster apps out there; for this article, I’ve grouped apps into three categories: emergency-focused apps, apps to help yourself or others, and reference apps. (There are also invaluable emergency websites, but that’s a topic for next month’s column.)
All of the apps I discuss are available for both Apple iPhones (through the App Store) and Android devices (through Google Play); just search your phone’s store for the app names below. And all are free to download and use (though a few might have optional paid features); several work offline. Thanks to Ann Forrest and Cindi Barker for some of the app suggestions.
Important: some of these apps require your location to work; be aware that this can be a drain on your battery, so be mindful when setting these up (if asked, specify that apps only use your location when you’re running them).
EMERGENCY APPS
Several of these emergency-focused apps provide information from city facilities. For the most part, these apps will require Internet access.
PulsePoint Respond: This 911-connected mobile app monitors local threats AND lets you know if someone in your area needs CPR. The app also includes brief instructions for basic CPR and use of AED defibrillators.
Smart911: This app lets you sign up for location-based and subscription-based alerts for area emergencies. In addition, you can share your household’s information with the city for use by emergency responders—including listing the people who live in your house and their ages, photos, and key medical information. And a bit morbid but useful: it also prompts you to provide information about birthmarks and other identifying traits in the event the worst happens.
MyShake: All about earthquakes! This app provides earthquake early warning alerts in Washington, Oregon, and California and lets you report an earthquake in your area. I’m a particular fan of this app: every October, the app is used for the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill, which I urge you to check out at shakeout.org.
Police Scanner: An independent app that monitors several live police, fire, and public safety radio channels. This does require Internet access, and some features are paid.
APPS TO HELP YOURSELF OR OTHERS
First Aid: The official Red Cross first aid app features a searchable alphabetical list of medical conditions with emergency steps anyone can take. And it works offline! (Search for Pet First Aid for a similar Red Cross app for cats and dogs.) The app also helps you find nearby hospitals and official Red Cross training classes.
Google Translate: With this app, you can translate typed text and recorded voice in multiple languages to help you communicate with someone who speaks another language. Critically, you can download languages for offline use. Also useful for travel!
Show Me for Emergencies: An innovative offline app created by a public health department, Show Me provides creative pictures to help with communication and can help people with hearing issues, those who speak other languages, and even preverbal children get their point across.
REFERENCE APPS
Google Maps: You can download maps for offline use right in the popular Google Maps app. Look for “Offline maps” in the settings section near your user profile and select the regions you want to always have available.
OsmAnd Maps: This more technical but flexible offline-only maps app includes open-source (freely available) local and regional map data that you can download to your phone. Some features are paid.
Kiwix: This clever app lets you download entire sections of Wikipedia (organized by topic) to read offline, including organized medical content. Useful if you have a lot of time on your hands–or have to step in with some basic first aid. Some features are paid.
Kindle: Although reading books on your phone might seem like a waste of valuable phone power during an emergency, books on first aid/survival (or edible plants) could come in handy–or convert your PDFs on any subject to Kindle format for later offline reading.
Notes/Google Keep/other memo apps: Don’t discount the value of a plain old note-taking app: this could be a lifesaver in an emergency when it comes to valuable personal info–and most allow you to lock notes for privacy, requiring a password. Notes is built into the iPhone and Google Keep is available for Android. In my phone’s Notes app, I store locked photos of my driver’s license and passport, and am considering adding info on my home title and insurance.
Lastly, not an app but a little-known phone feature: consider turning on Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs), if you haven’t yet. WEAs are text-like messages from government agencies (like Amber Alerts) about urgent public safety threats in your area that can be enabled in your phone’s settings (search your phone settings for “Emergency Alerts”). Visit Washington’s Emergency Management website for more information and to see videos on setting up these alerts: mil.wa.gov/alerts - WEA
Did I miss any great apps? Any websites to let me know about for next month? I’d love to hear from you at madparkhub@gmail.com.
With luck, you’ll never experience a disaster, but if it happens, you will be glad you downloaded these apps in advance and played with them before they were needed.