For residents of Alabama this time of year, staying safe from severe weather is a top priority. Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States’ disaster relief agency, has an app for iPhones and Androids that can help Alabamians stay prepared.
The app allows users to receive weather alerts for up to five different locations, put together a safety checklist, review safety tips and set an emergency meeting place with friends and family.
Users can also use the app to apply for disaster assistance and to submit photos to FEMA in the event a disaster does strike.
One of the biggest severe weather threats in Alabama during the fall is hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season began in June and officially ends Nov. 30.
In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan hit the coast of Alabama, devastating communities along the Gulf and causing close to $15 billion in damage. No major hurricanes have hit Alabama since 2005, but the possibility remains.
Philip Chaney, associate professor in geosciences, said the best strategy in dealing with a natural crisis is to plan ahead.
“For hurricanes, one of the big things you want to consider is whether you want to stay where you are when the hurricane passes, or if you want to evacuate,” Chaney said.
Whether you plan on staying put or evacuating, you should be proactive in your approach, which the FEMA app can help users with, said Cheria Brown, a FEMA representative.
“We want to make sure that individuals prepare themselves before an event actually occurs,” Brown said. “You don’t want to wait until it starts to rain and go out without an umbrella, you want to have an umbrella when you’re out in the rain.”
Another threat this time of year is tornadoes, one of the most deadly types of severe weather. Tornadoes are usually associated with the spring, but Chaney said November is the peak month for tornadoes in the fall.
Hurricanes can be spotted by the National Weather Service days in advance, but tornadoes are harder to predict, and residents may receive a warning only 15 minutes before touchdown, making a plan that much more important.
“You need to practice [your plan] to see how long it’s going to take,” Chaney said. “You only get a few minutes warning when the tornado is seen in the area, so you can’t wait until that point to decide that you’re going to drive across town to somebody else’s house.”
FEMA recommends constructing a sturdy safe room on or below ground level in case a tornado hits.
For mobile home residents in Lee County, Chaney has one tip: evacuate.
“Mobile homes have been proven over and again to not be safe shelter during tornadoes,” Chaney emphasized. “[Mobile home residents] should definitely have a plan to go somewhere else.”
The FEMA app is available for free on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
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