Caribbean Red Cross Societies launch free, life-saving Multi-Hazard Mobile App for 2014 hurricane season

As the Caribbean region braces itself for another hurricane season, experience with previous hurricanes like Ivan, Gilbert, David, Andrew and Hugo remind us all of the critical importance of protecting our families and safeguarding against loss of life and property.{{more}}

Recognizing that the Caribbean is a tech savvy society with a high mobile phone penetration, the Red Cross National Societies in the Caribbean have created a Multi-Hazard Mobile App which is freely available to all.

In partnership with the American Red Cross and Global Disaster Preparedness Centre, with support from USAID’s Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance, the app delivers life-saving practices directly to your iPhone or Android device.

The technology allows you to track storm progress, including local alerts, and advises what to do in the event of a natural disaster. It provides simple steps and checklists to help prepare and respond to emergencies, including hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, and can be accessed without a mobile connection.

The app is highly versatile and can be personalized to filter alerts to a specific location, as well as link users to diverse social media outlets. The “I’m safe” feature, for example, allows users to widely broadcast their safety status to friends and family, using multiple social media platforms.

Contact your local Red Cross for more information.