Cellphones have become more valuable to our daily lives. We can check the latest weather, keep up to date with news from around the world or look at the newest cat video.
Your phone also can be valuable during an emergency situation. Here are some tips for using your phone and making it work better for you during a disaster.
Check the numbers for your emergency contacts to make sure they’re up to date. Be sure to save contact information for local police and fire departments as well as utility companies. That way, you can quickly report any service or power outages after an emergency.
Some cellphones allow you to create contact groups or lists, making it easy to send a single text message to a group to let them know your status after an emergency. Many social-networking sites allow you to create a list or group of contacts, as well, making it easy to share your status with your emergency contacts after a disaster.
Twitter is becoming an important vehicle for information before, during and after a disaster. A common misconception is that people need a Twitter account to receive updates. In fact, you can receive updates from Twitter by using the “fast follow” capability with your text-messaging function. For example, you can follow Southwest Colorado Red Cross by texting “follow swcoredcross” to 40404. I encourage you to receive updates from local and state emergency-management agencies in your area, along with any other accounts that could provide you with meaningful information before, during and after a disaster.
If you have an android or iPhone, you can download important apps from the American Red Cross that will notify you of wildfires or severe weather in your area. From your mobile phone, call **REDCROSS (**73327677), and we will send you a link to download the hurricane-tracking app to your iPhone or Android device or you can download them directly from the iTunes or Google Play app stores. It will give you step-by-step instructions for what to do during an emergency and let family and friends know you are safe with the customizable “I’m Safe” alert for Facebook, Twitter, email and text. The toolkit even includes a strobe light, flashlight and audible alert functions.
This may not be a tip for using your cellphone, but having an extra battery for your phone (or a solar charger) in your emergency kit will ensure you can use your device if the power stays out for an extended period of time.
Finding new uses for your cellphone is just one way you can become better prepared for any emergency situation. You can explore even more preparedness information by going to www.redcross.org/prepare or by contacting our office at 259-5383.
Cindi Shank is executive director of the Southwest Colorado chapter of the American Red Cross.
