Modern Technology During Major Disasters

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

Technology can cause stress and sometimes is more of a burden than helpful.  However, in the case of emergencies such as natural disasters, it can be extremely helpful for keeping you updated and letting friends and family know where your are.  You more than likely already have the technology in your home to keep you and your family safe during a disaster, so follow these tips to use it effectively! 

Remember, always be sure to keep portable charges ready in your emergency kit so you can always access your technology when you need it most. 

Social Media for News

Using social media is a great way to get up-to-date news straight to your smartphone. Almost all local and national government has social media pages that are updated regularly, especially during a natural disaster. 

Mark Yourself Safe

Another way to use social media is to mark yourself safe.  Facebook offers a  feature called Safety Check that allows you to mark yourself safe if you are in the area of a dangerous situation.  Marking yourself safe lets friends and family know that although you are in the area of disaster, you are safe.  The Red Cross offers a similar feature called Safe & Well which is both an app and a website where you can mark yourself as safe for friends and family. 

Use Online Storage

Services like Google Drive and DropBox are a great way to store personal information online in a safe manner. Keeping copies of identification cards, passports, insurance policies, medical records, and pet information is important is your documents get lost in a disaster or you forget them when you are  evacuating.  You can also access DropBox and Google drive on any computer or phone, just make sure you remember your password! 

Stay Safe and Stay Charged!