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As you know, the northeastern part of the U.S. experienced one of the worst storms in the country's history this past week leaving millions without power and thousands homeless. The death toll has now climbed over the 100 mark. Highways, public transportation systems, and airports are just now resuming regular service. That said, we recommend you and yours plan make a plan in the event another storm of equal or greater magnitutde strikes in the future. Along with bandages, canned food, water, flashlights, and blankets, we recommend downloaded a few of the following smartphone apps that can help you keep you healthy and informed about what is going on around you.
WebMD Mobile
The website you visit when you don't want to yet shell money out for real doctor has an app that is nearly as good.In the case of an emergency, you can use the app to help figure out what's ailing you by choosing symptoms and body parts. It also has a first aid feature that works without an Internet connection and instructs you on what to do in case you need to conduct CPR or put a broken arm in a sling.
Click here to download it now from Apple App Store, Free
First Aid by American Red Cross
The Red Cross's first aid app makes solving everyday emergencies easy to handle with simple step-by-step instructions. There are even some instructional videos to better help. A lot of the content is stored locally so there's no need for an Internet connection. If none of that works, the app has built-in 9-1-1 and EMS call buttons.
FEMA
Similar to the American Red Cross suite of natural disaster apps, the Federal Emergency Management Agency app helps you prepare for disaster by helping you build a kit. There are also maps of disaster shelters and emergency numbers for you to call if you're affected by a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, flood, extreme heat or wildfire.
Hurricane, Earthquake, Wildfire by American Red Cross
Half of the battle against warring with a natural disaster is being as prepared as you can possibly be. That means getting your house and family in order, having an evacuation route, and knowing where to go if and when a disaster happens. The American Red Cross's Hurricane app does just that. Tells you where the storm is, where it's going, what you should be doing to prepare, and what do to if and when it hits. For all of our California friends, the American Red Cross also has apps for wildfires and earthquakes.
GotoAID
One of the most fleshed out first aids available on iOS or Android, GotoAID allows runs the full gamut of medical care—everything from bee stings to broken bones is covered here. There's also a section for natural disaster preparedness that covers not just earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricane, but also snowstorms, volcanic eruption, damn failure, and landslides. There's also a Morse Code translator that allows you to type in a message that gets sent via your phone's light signals.
Click here to buy it now from Apple App Store, $5
Cick here to buy it now from Google Play Store, $5
Flashlight
If your power went out last week due to Sandy, you know how important a flashlight can be. We recommend buying an actual flashlight so you can conserve your smartphone battery, but, if for some reason, a flashlight is unavailable, you should download a free flashlight app for your smartphone. The app utilizes your phone's camera flash and turns it into a makeshift flashlight. This app also has an SOS feature that will signal an emergency using morse code. Beware: Using this app for prolonged periods of time will drain your battery.
Click here to download it now from Apple App Store, Free
Click here to download it now from Google Play Store, Free
Red Panic Button
Instead of calling each member of your family and all of your friends individually when you find yourself without a roof or wading through four feet of water, use the Red Panic Button app. You set up a list of people to whom the app will send panic email and text message. When pressed, the app will send your coordinates to your list of emergency contacts. You can also configure the app to work with Facebook and Twitter, if you think that would be faster.
Disaster Readiness
More of an e-book than app, Disaster Readiness contains over 275,000 disaster guides that range from terrorist attacks to chemical emergencies. More technical than most—if not all—others on this list, this app will have you prepared to get through nearly any and everything.
Click here to buy it now from Apple App Store, $2
Click here to buy it now from Google Play Store, $1.49
Disaster Alert
Created by the Pacific Disaster Center, this app alerts users to every natural disaster and "active hazards" happening on the Pacific coast. There's also a global view so you can see what disasters and hazards are happening all over the world.
AroundMe
Most don't think of this app as one they would use during an emergency. But when your normal life is turned upside down and you're trying to decide what's what in your 'hood, this app can come in handy. Use it to find out what restaurants, gas stations, hospitals, and taxis are in your area—or whatever area you happen to be in when a disaster strikes.