American Red Cross Launches Earthquake App American Red Cross
go to original October 3, 2012

The American Red Cross has launched its official Earthquake App, putting lifesaving information right in the hands of people who live in or who visit earthquake prone areas.

Be prepared for the “Big One” with Earthquake by American Red Cross. The earthquake app is the third in a series of disaster-specific apps which began with the release of the highly successful Hurricane App earlier this summer.  This free application, available for both iPhone and Android, gives people local and real time alerts for earthquakes – whether it’s the community where they live, the places they love to vacation or the places where friends and loved ones live.

“This app gives users instant access to local and real-time information, so they know what to do before, during and after earthquakes,” said Dr. Steven J. Jensen, member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Committee, and a professor in emergency management at California State University at Long Beach. “The new, simplified ‘Shake Zone Impact Maps’ provide users with personalized local impact information on the status of their community in order to help them make crucial decisions.” The new app also provides users with instant access to information on what to do before, during and after earthquakes - including vital information for post-quake risks like fires and tsunamis.

With social media currently being a key information tool, the app allows people to share vital information with their social networks. The app also gives people across the country the ability to receive location-based earthquake alerts for the United States and its territories, and share those on their social networks. Users can even receive alerts for locations in areas where they like to vacation or where loved ones live. This feature can give peace of mind to frequent travelers and people with elderly relatives or college students. Users can tap the “I’m Safe” button to post a message to their social accounts, letting friends and loved ones know they are out of harm’s way.

Features of the app include:

• Earthquake epicenter location, impact magnitude and local geographical impact data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey;
• Personalized push notifications, monitoring both magnitude and geography;
• A “Shake Zone Impact Map” that provides real-time, simplified impact assessment when available;
• Comprehensive reporting of all seismic activity for every geographic area in the United States;
• Options to view the app in English or Spanish based on user handset settings;
• One touch “I’m safe” messaging that allows users to broadcast reassurance to family and friends via social media outlets that they are out of harm’s way;
• Locations of open Red Cross shelters;
• Simple steps and checklists people can use to create a family emergency plan;
• Preloaded content that gives users instant access to critical action steps, even without mobile connectivity;
• Information on events that may happen after earthquakes such as fires and tsunamis;
• Toolkit with flashlight, strobe light and audible alarm; and
• Badges users can earn through interactive quizzes and share on social networks.

A new Red Cross survey shows that the public is becoming increasingly reliant on mobile devices as a lifeline for emergency information. According to the survey, apps are now tied with social media as the fourth most popular way to get information during emergencies – following TV, radio, and online news sites. Nearly one-fifth of Americans say they’ve received some kind of emergency information from an app they’ve downloaded, making the Red Cross app development effort even more important.

Over the past three months, the Red Cross has made great strides in putting vital information in the hands of people who need it during emergencies. More the Red Cross First Aid and Hurricane apps are on more than one million mobile devices across the country and around the world.  Since June, the Red Cross First Aid app has had nearly 750,000 downloads. The Hurricane App, surpassed more than 250,000 downloads in the first few weeks of its release. The app, which was released in August of 2012 in the midst of Hurricane Season, proved successful during Hurricane Isaac by helping those affected locate local Red Cross shelters and send “I’m safe” messages to loved ones.

To learn about all of the Red Cross apps visit redcross.org/mobileapps.

Please remember that while mobile apps can help aid you in preparing for various emergencies, they are not a substitute for training. To learn more about the courses offered by the American Red Cross, visit redcross.org/takeaclass.

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