Preparing For Hurricanes And Other Natural Disasters

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Posted by Marcus Ashby on Jan 09, 2012

Hurricane season is here which means it’s a possibility that hurricanes and tropical storms could leave trails of destruction along coastlines. The Global Alert Network wants to help Gulf Coast residents with a tool that will provide them with real-time local weather, traffic and emergency updates that will help them prepare for these storms.

The free mobile app uses GPS to recognize the user’s location, sending breaking alerts to them instantly. The free app is already available in AppWorld and the Android Market. “Natural disasters, from hurricanes to tornadoes, have been particularly harsh throughout the country this year and the best way to mitigate the damage of these storms is to prepare. The free app gives users the peace of mind of knowing that if severe weather is headed toward them, they will automatically be alerted and can immediately take action,” said Scott Hughes, President of Global Alert Network. “Within minutes of downloading the GAN app, users have a free, potentially life saving tool at their fingertips. Especially during seasons with devastating weather and in the regions that often get hit, there is no reason why residents should not be downloading this application.”

Getting proper insurance is another way you can prepare for a natural disaster. But a recent Harris interactive poll found that only 56% of Americans say they’re prepared for a disaster. Two in five Americans say they’re not prepared for a long term power outage. Here are some regional concerns according to this recent poll:

  • Easterners think that a snow and/or ice storm will be most likely to directly impact them (77%) and while Midwesterners are concerned about this as well (79%), an even greater number say they believe tornadoes will impact them (89%);
  • Southerners are also concerned about tornadoes (66%) yet half say they are concerned about hurricanes (54%) or droughts (50%);
  • Those in the West believe earthquakes will impact them (66%), which is a concern shared by very few in all other regions (between 7% and 16%);
  • Although only 11% of Americans think a nuclear power plant disaster or meltdown will affect them directly, it is the only issue listed that most people say the federal government is worst equipped to handle (59%).  One third say the government is worst equipped to handle terrorism (34%), which is down from the 48% who said this in 2006; and,
  • In 2006, shortly after Hurricane Katrina, half of Americans (50%) said that the federal government was worst equipped to handle hurricanes.  Five years later just 16% believe this.

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Tags: Hurricanes, Hurricanes Natural