Technology and apps you need when an earthquake or fire strikes the Bay Area
Power blackouts and poorly-thought-out evacuation alert systems have left Californians without critical information during natural disasters in the past.
But there are some free apps for your phone, numbers to text, systems to register for and technology to buy that could ensure that you have the most accurate and up-to-date information when disaster strikes, even during a power blackout.
To best ensure you get critical information when you most need it, it’s best to choose a diverse range of disaster preparedness technology options in case any one particular solution fails. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also reminds people that mobile networks can become overwhelmed in a crisis, and it is often easier to receive information via text than over a phone call or on an app during those times.
All of these apps are available for iOS in the Apple App Store or Android in the Google Play store unless