[Fwd: [W4OVH] FEMA mobile application update encourages family, friends to keep in touch during weather events, offers preparation advice]

Sat Apr 18 05:07:22 CDT 2015

Start --QST QST QST
Originally posted to [Google Groups "Ole Virginia Hams, Amateur Radio Club"]
retransmitted by --
            73 de
     Terry McCarty
    3t3 at comcast.net
        wa5nti

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[W4OVH] FEMA mobile application update encourages family, 
friends to keep in touch during weather events, offers preparation advice
Date: 	Fri, 17 Apr 2015 17:18:22 -0400
From: 	John Heartney <jackbeanstock1 at verizon.net>
Reply-To: 	John Heartney <jackbeanstock1 at verizon.net>
To: 	W4OVH REFLECTOR <W4OVH at googlegroups.com>

Posted for Ron , N4RDZ.
John KG4NXT

From: Ronald Zuber <mailto:n4rdz.va at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2015 12:03 PM
To: John Heartney <mailto:jackbeanstock1 at verizon.net>
Subject: Fwd: FW: FEMA mobile application update encourages family, 
friends to keep in touch during weather events, offers preparation advice

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Zuber, Ronald" <Ronald.Zuber at fema.dhs.gov 
<mailto:Ronald.Zuber at fema.dhs.gov>>
Date: Apr 17, 2015 12:02 PM
Subject: FW: FEMA mobile application update encourages family, friends 
to keep in touch during weather events, offers preparation advice
To: "n4rdz.va at gmail.com <mailto:n4rdz.va at gmail.com>" <n4rdz.va at gmail.com 
<mailto:n4rdz.va at gmail.com>>
Cc:

From: DHS Management Communications
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 7:28 AM
Subject: FEMA mobile application update encourages family, friends to 
keep in touch during weather events, offers preparation advice

FEMA mobile application update encourages family, friends to keep in 
touch during weather events, offers preparation advice

Yesterday, FEMA launched a new feature to its free app that will enable 
users to receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up 
to five locations across the nation. This new feature allows users to 
receive alerts on severe weather happening anywhere they select in the 
country, even if the phone is not located in the area, making it easy to 
follow severe weather that may be threatening family and friends.

“Emergency responders and disaster survivors are increasingly turning to 
mobile devices to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters,” 
said Craig Fugate, FEMA administrator. “This new feature empowers 
individuals to assist and support family and friends before, during, and 
after a severe weather event.”

“Every minute counts when severe weather threatens and mobile apps are 
an essential way to immediately receive the life-saving warnings 
provided by NOAA’s National Weather Service,” said Kathryn Sullivan, 
Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “These alerts are another tool in our toolbox 
as we work to build a ‘Weather Ready Nation’ – a nation that’s ready, 
responsive, and resilient to extreme weather events.”

According to a recent survey 
<http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/01/us-smartphone-use-in-2015/> by 
Pew Research, 40 percent of Americans have used their smartphone to look 
up government services or information. Additionally, a majority of 
smartphone owners use their devices to keep up to date with breaking 
news, and to be informed about what is happening in their community.

The new weather alert feature adds to the app’s existing features to 
help Americans through emergencies. In addition to this upgrade, the app 
also provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, maps of 
open shelters and Disaster Recovery Centers, and tips on how to survive 
natural and manmade disasters. The FEMA app also offers a “Disaster 
Reporter” feature, where users can upload and share photos of disaster 
damage.

Some other key features of the app include:

    * Safety Tips: Tips on how to stay safe before, during, and after
      over 20 types of hazards, including floods, hurricanes, tornadoes
      and earthquakes
    * Disaster Reporter: Users can upload and share photos of damage and
      recovery efforts
    * Maps of Disaster Resources: Users can locate and receive driving
      directions to open shelters and disaster recovery centers
    * Apply for Assistance: The app provides easy access to apply for
      federal disaster assistance
    * Information in Spanish: The app defaults to Spanish-language
      content for smartphones that have Spanish set as their default
      language

The latest version of the FEMA app is available for free in the App 
Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Android devices. Users who 
already have the app downloaded on their device should download the 
latest update for the weather alerts feature to take effect. The new 
weather alerts feature in the FEMA app does not replace Wireless 
Emergency Alerts (WEA) function available on many new smartphones. WEAs 
have a special tone and vibration and are sent for emergencies such as 
extreme weather, AMBER alerts, or Presidential Alerts.

To learn more about the FEMA app, visit: The FEMA App: Helping Your 
Family Weather the Storm 
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxBdhLtNuxM&feature=youtu.be>.

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google 
Groups "Ole Virginia Hams, Amateur Radio Club" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send 
an email to w4ovh+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com 
<mailto:w4ovh+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com>.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
End -- QST QST QST

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.amrad.org/pipermail/tacos/attachments/20150418/17fe2dde/attachment.html>