New FEMA Apps Available

FEMA has released new apps and a text messaging service to help you prepare for and stay informed during a disaster.

The FEMA app lets you:

• Check off the items you have in your family’s emergency kit,
• Enter your family emergency meeting locations,
• Review safety tips on what to do before, during and after a disaster,
• View a map of shelters and disaster recovery centers across the U.S., and
• Read FEMA's latest blog posts.

The app is available in the Android market. An app for Blackberry version 6 devices and iPhones will be available in the coming weeks.

FEMA has also launched a text message alert system.

• Text PREPARE to 43362 (4FEMA) to sign up to receive monthly disaster safety tips
• Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345)
  
  (For availability of shelters and services, contact your local emergency management agency.)
  
• Text DRC + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest disaster recovery center in your area (for example, if you live in St. Helens with a Zip Code of 97051, you’d text DRC 97051).

Click here to see a video of the app in action and to read more about these new services.