The estimated reading time for this post is 5 minutes
I truly hope you never face a disaster. But the thing about disasters is that few people expect them to strike.
Best to be prepared for disasters ahead of time so you can deal with them if and when they happen. These apps can help alert you to disasters around the world and alert others when you are in danger and need help.
If you never need these apps, great. If you do, you’ll be glad you have them.
Apps to Alert Others When You Need Help
SirenGPS Mobile
The free SirenGPS Mobile app connects you to emergency services at the tap of the screen. Your location will be sent automatically so you can be found.
The app works over Wi-Fi as well as cell networks, so can be used if cell networks are down after an emergency.
Users can create a personal health profile which can be shared with emergency services to give better information and save time.
[tip] iPhone owners should complete their medical ID information to help emergency responders get important information about your health and your important contacts.
Find out more at ICE: How the Apple Health App May Save Your Life [/tip]
Guardly
Guardly is an app that can help keep people safer in places such as businesses and universities. This app allows organizations’ staff and students to report unsafe conditions, including suspicious activity, hazardous materials, harassment, unsafe conditions and more. Reports can be made to internal security and/or to government emergency services.
The user’s location can be sent with the report to help security or emergency services quickly find the person. The app works worldwide and Guardly can even locate people within buildings, with floor and room accuracy, if the buildings are equipped with the internal GPS technology.
Guardly can also be used by organizations to notify users of danger, ask if they need assistance and to have people check in when they are safe.
This video shows how Guardly works:
The app is free, but Guardly charges for its services.
Life360
The Life360 app provides a service to keep loved ones connected. Set up a network of people to share your location, chat, and get alerts when you are nearby someone in your network. People in your network can use the app on iPhone and Android devices.
Use the app to let people in your network know you are safe. You can pause sharing your location for times you’d prefer not to be tracked.
The Life360 app is free with some services available for a fee.
Red Panic Button
If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, the Red Panic Button app may help you. This app can send a text message and/or email to your designated contacts giving your location. You can also add a voice or video message and/or photo to your text and email.
The app can also be used to contact emergency services.
Red Panic Button is free, but extra features are available for a fee.
Apps to Alert You of Disasters
Disaster Alert
This app is from the Pacific Disaster Center and alerts you to disasters around the world. Find out about hazards such as typhoons, volcano eruptions, tidal waves, earthquakes, floods and more. See disasters on a map and in a list view to find out what’s going on around the globe.
The app is free with paid features available.
First Aid by American Red Cross
The free First Aid app by American Red Cross helps guide you through giving first aid to those who are injured. The app can also help you prepare for disaster with lists of how to prepare for drought, chemical emergencies, flood, storms and more.
Watch videos and take quizzes within the app. Switch from English to Spanish easily from within the app.
This video shows how the app works:
Global Emergency Overview App
The Global Emergency Overview App gives weekly information about natural disasters and humanitarian crises around the world. Search by map or a list of countries.
According to the developer, the app is designed to answer these questions about humanitarian disasters:
- 1.Which humanitarian crises currently exist? (World map)
- 2.What has happened in the last seven days? (Highlights and snapshot)
- 3.What is the situation in the country affected by a crisis? (Narrative)
- 4.Which countries could be prioritized in terms of humanitarian response? (Prioritization)
This app is available free on:
Humanitarian Kiosk
The free Humanitarian Kiosk app from the United Nations gives information about humanitarian crises around the world. You can select geographic areas you’re interested in and follow them with up-to-the-minute information from those areas.
Real Time Warning/Earthquakes
Get information about disasters around the world with the Real Time Warning app, also known as Earthquakes. See a list of disasters or look at the map. The app shows you the severity of the disaster and lets you share whether you experienced the disaster.
The app is free with a fee for alert notifications.
Real Time Warning/Earthquakes app on Android
Earthquake Alert!
The free Earthquake Alert! app notifies you of Earthquakes above 1.0 in the US and 4.5 in the rest of the world. See the earthquakes on a map or a list. Tap an earthquake to find out more about it, including news reports.
[note] Also check out MyShake: Your Phone Becomes an Earthquake Detector to help alert others of earthquakes in your area. [/note]
Infographic
This infographic illustrates the disaster apps of this article:
Your Thoughts
Do you have apps to prepare for disaster? Which disaster apps would be most helpful to you? Do you have any suggestions for disaster apps?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
*Infographic used with permission of Nature’s Water
Voice of America Learning English
Learn English while reading about tech at my weekly personal technology column at Voice of America Learning English. This week’s article is: Siri Comes to Mac Computers
Hi Carolyn,
It’s a shame I do not have any of these apps installed on my device yet…it’s quite a shame!
Though, I’m tempted to install all (already), I’ll pick only Red Panic Button and two others…I’m certain that will work the trick and serve handy in case of any emergency.
Thanks for blogging in a manner to save life…it is sincerely appreciated.
Enjoy the day!
Always,
Akaahan Terungwa
Hello Akaahan, Yes, these are the apps I hope you never need but are good to have, just in case… Rarely do we have the opportunity to anticipate disaster so it’s best to prepare for it ahead of time. By having these apps handy we can have them ready when we need them. Hopefully we never will, but why not have them in the event of disaster?
I’m glad you found this article helpful, Akaahan. Thank you for your kind comment.
Great list! I use a police scanner app to automatically alert me to local and national emergencies, as they occur. I’m going to go check out life360 though – that sounds amazing for helping track family when they go out of town and aren’t aware of any potential threats in their new location!
Hi Nick, Great idea to use a police scanner app to learn about local and national emergencies. I hope you enjoy using the Life360 app.
Hi Carolyn,
Every time I visit your blog. I always find new things and even this time I am not disappointed, I got some new apps use.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Robin, Thank you for your very kind comment. That’s what The Wonder of Tech is all about, tech to help you in your daily life. I appreciate your visit and your sharing your thoughts with us!
Hi Carolyn,
An amazing infographic with some useful disaster apps . I found some new apps to use like the Red Panic Button. Thanks for the share.
Hi Manidipa, I’m so glad you enjoyed this infographic. I hope that you never need any disaster apps, but it’s good to have them just in case.