The recent spate of bushfires in Los Angeles spotlighted just how unpredictable, unexpected, and often life-threatening emergencies are. However, having the right tech at your fingertips can make the difference between life and death – literally. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a medical crisis or a sudden evacuation, these are some of the best emergency apps available to keep safe and connected. Rain, hail or shine!
Fail to plan? Plan to fail
To start, the Australian Red Cross Get Prepared app is a simple tool designed to help Australians prepare for various emergencies. It enables users to connect with key support contacts, complete preparedness tasks with easy checklists, and create a personalised protection plan and shareable strategy on how to handle a range of situations when disaster strikes.
Life 360: Safety comes full circle
During emergencies, staying connected with family and friends is crucial. Life360 makes it easy by offering real-time location tracking. You can monitor your loved ones’ whereabouts and receive alerts when they arrive at or leave designated locations. This ensures everyone’s safety and provides peace of mind.
One standout feature of Life360 is its ability to create custom geo-fenced alerts. For example, if severe weather is forecasted in your child’s area, you can set up an alert to notify you when they leave school or arrive home. This feature can also be invaluable during evacuations or large-scale emergencies. And, allows you to track family members without relying on phone calls or texts, which may not go through during network congestion.
Life360 offers a free plan with basic features, but premium plans unlock additional benefits like driving safety monitoring and roadside assistance. These are useful in emergencies where road conditions are compromised.
Emergency Plus: An A+ for emergencies
Specifically designed for Australians, the Emergency+ app helps you provide critical location data to emergency responders. Developed in partnership with emergency services, the app uses your phone’s GPS to ensure Triple Zero (000) operators can locate you quickly and accurately.
The integration of ‘what3words’ technology enables 000 callers to share their exact location by providing just three unique words, streamlining support for emergency responders.
This feature is particularly beneficial in remote or unfamiliar areas where landmarks might not be easily identifiable. So, whether you’re hiking in the bush or stuck in a flood zone, Emergency+ ensures help knows exactly where to find you.
It also includes options to contact the SES (State Emergency Service) and Police Assistance Line for non-urgent emergencies, streamlining the process of getting help. Best of all, it’s free to download. Find more details at https://www.triplezero.gov.au/
Hazards Near Me: A compass for caution
If you are in a country prone to bushfires, floods, and cyclones, staying informed is half the battle.
Australians can start by downloading the myfireplan.com.au guide from the NSW Rural Fire Serve. Not only will it help prepare your home for bush fire season, it also provides the information you need to keep up to date with information incase of an emergency. This includes contact for the Bush Fire Information Line at 1800 679 737, the NSW Rural Fire Service website, local radio, ABC emergency broadcasters, TV, newspapers, and the NSW RFS social media channels on Facebook and Twitter.
In addition to this, both the Fires Near Me and Hazards Near Me apps provide live updates on emergencies happening nearby, helping Australians stay ahead of potential threats.
These apps offers real-time alerts, interactive maps, and advice on what to do during specific disasters. For instance, during a bushfire, the Fires Near Me app will provide details about fire proximity, intensity, and evacuation zones, allowing you to make informed decisions quickly. Similarly, the Hazards Near Me app shows information sourced directly from emergency services and provides up-to-date alerts and data about bush fires, floods, and tsunamis in NSW, as well as incidents within a 50km radius outside the NSW border.
For Americans, the FEMA App (Federal Emergency Management Agency) serves a similar purpose. It offers highly customisable alerts for various disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires, and even hazardous material incidents. FEMA also features detailed preparedness guides covering everything from creating evacuation plans to building emergency kits for pets and children.
SMS-Tsunami-warning.com: Tsunami safe
For Australian residents, the Bureau of Meteorology’s BOM Weather App is a must-have. It provides severe weather update warnings, helping you prepare and evacuate quickly if needed.
Otherwise, SMS-Tsunami-Warning.com offers a text-based earthquake and tsunami alert system that integrates real-time seismic data from official global research centers. Unlike typical apps, this service operates through a GSM texting platform compatible with over 800 mobile carriers worldwide.
The system employs an advanced algorithm to assess risk levels for users based on various earthquake factors. These include location, magnitude, depth, type, and proximity to the user.
You can register for free email alerts or opt for a combination of email, text, and voice notifications (paid subscription). The service allows users to customise alerts, track up to five chosen locations, and includes a test alert feature to confirm compatibility with your phone. The list of supported countries and carriers is regularly updated, ensuring seamless text alerts even while travelling.
First Aid fast: Two of our favourites
Emergencies often involve injuries or medical issues, and knowing how to respond can save lives. The First Aid by St John Ambulance app is a digital first-aid guide that works even without internet access. It provides step-by-step instructions for managing a range of emergencies, from burns and fractures to CPR and choking.
The offline functionality is a standout feature, making it reliable even in situations where mobile networks are down. The app also includes interactive quizzes to test your knowledge, ensuring you’re prepared when the time comes.
In the US, the American Red Cross First Aid App offers similar features, including instructional videos and quizzes. It’s an excellent tool for building confidence in first-aid skills, whether you’re a beginner or looking to refresh your knowledge.
Plan B!
What happens when there’s no mobile coverage or your phone dies? In some emergencies, reaching services via mobile networks may be impossible. That’s where traditional methods and general preparedness come into play.
Portable Power Banks. Keep a fully charged portable power bank handy – ideally, one with multiple charges or solar-powered functionality. Power outages are common in disasters, so this ensures your phone or other devices remain usable for as long as possible.
Save documents in the Cloud. Disasters often result in lost or damaged possessions. Regularly back up important files and irreplaceable photos to cloud services like Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox. This simple step can save a lifetime of memories and critical information.
Physical Copies of Contacts and Maps. Write down important phone numbers and addresses (like local emergency services and evacuation shelters) in case your phone battery dies or the network is unavailable. Also, keep a detailed paper map of your area and highlight potential evacuation routes.
Emergency Supplies Kit. Always have a well-stocked emergency kit, including essentials like non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlights, extra batteries, a whistle, and a first-aid kit. Don’t forget personal necessities like medications, cash in small denominations, and items for pets or young children.
Offline Apps and Tools. Download apps with offline functionality before disaster strikes. For instance, navigation tools such as Maps.me can provide critical information without requiring an active connection. An old-school battery-powered radio can also be a literal life saver during a black out, and a good reminder that sometimes, the simplest tools are the most effective.
Pre-Arranged Emergency Plans. Create and rehearse an emergency plan with your household. Include a central meeting point, assign roles for specific tasks (like grabbing the emergency kit), and decide how you’ll communicate if separated.