Hurricane ready: Devices and apps to keep you safe and informed
Being prepared for hurricane season is essential to keep you and your family safe should one of these monster storms come your way.
The 2025 hurricane season is halfway over, and so far it has been fairly mild with no major storms making landfall in the US. However, people shouldn’t be complacent as conditions are ripe for things to liven up before it ends in November.
Last year saw the southeast get slammed by two near back-to-back monsters in the late season that caused severe damage far inland. They proved that being prepared is essential to keep you and your family safe.
Devices and apps to keep you safe and informed
Keeping abreast of the developing situation before and after a hurricane, or any major storm, can be key. Signing up to get official alerts from FEMA and your local emergency weather service is a good place to start.
You’ll want to make sure that your cell phone is charged in case the power goes out or you have to evacuate. Having a couple power banks, keeping one in the car, topped and ready for action, is also recommended if you are on the go or the power stays out for an extended period of time.
It is advised that you have a battery-powered or hand-crank radio in your emergency preparedness kit, in the event that you cannot get information via the internet, telephone or cell phone.
Jason St. Angelo at USA TODAY Tech recommends having a Garmin inReach Mini 2 or ZOLEO for off-grid communication. These devices let you send texts and trigger SOS even if the towers are out and you have no coverage.
He also recommends the Zello app that can turn your mobile into a push-to-talk walkie-talkie, but it relies on cell networks being up and running.
Power generators have been lifesavers for many to keep the power running for essential uses. However, be careful with these as more people are getting injured or even dying these days from these devices than the weather event itself.
Emergency hurricane kit recommendations from FEMA
Besides the items above, FEMA highly recommends that people in coastal areas have an emergency hurricane kit on hand in case a storm does escalate into a major incident. Despite the best efforts of forcasters, tropical storms can be extremely unpredictable and having the essentials kept together can save vital minutes.
FEMA has issued guidance on what to keep in your hurricane emergency kit. They recommend gathering most of the items in an easy-to-carry bag that you can take if you need to evacuate, but you may need to keep some of the bulkier items (food and water) separate.
Here’s FEMA’s suggestions for an emergency hurricane kit:
- Water, one gallon per person per day (keep a 3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
- Non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food (keep a 3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
- Flashlight
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Batteries
- First aid kit
- Medication and medical items (7-day supply)
- Multi-purpose tool, like a Swiss Army knife
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
- Cell phone, charger and battery pack
- Family and emergency contact information
- Cash, in case ATMs are out of use
- Extra fuel for generator and car, be extremely carefully storing
Depending on your family’s requirements, you should also consider bringing baby supplies, pet supplies and spare keys for your house and car. Less important but potentially still useful are towels, plastic sheeting, duct tape, scissors and work gloves.
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment