Disaster Tech: The Best Tech to Help You Prepare for Natural Disasters

As we all have witnessed, natural disasters can really wreak havoc on our lives especially when essentials like lighting and power are not available. in 2013 we will see new products helping us be better prepared and safe during natural disasters.

LuminAid – Price $18.95

• Solar-powered, inflatable lantern that packs flat
• Inflates to create lightweight, waterproof light– great for emergency kits or camping
• Recharges in 5 hours of sunlight and provides up to 8 hours of light on a single charge
• Designed by two Dartmouth students after the Haiti earthquake as an emergency aid/relief aid item
• A gift that gives back! Each Give Light, Get Light purchased sends a matching light to UN Peacekeeping and & UNAIDS to distribute in conflict and post-conflict regions.

Keeping reading to learn about even more devices and apps to use during a natural disaster. 

Mophie Juice Packs – Price $79.95 and up

In a disaster probably the most important thing to have is your cell phone or even your tablet. You will be using it constantly.

You have to do everything you can to conserve battery power or in with the case of Mophie Juice Packs, double it.

· The Mophie juice packs are a great way to keep a charge to all your devices specifically Android and iPhone devices and tablets
· Mophie products fit into the lives of those who rely on smartphones and tablets to stay connected.
· Can almost double the life of your battery
· The cases also protect your device.

Lifeproof Cases for iPhone and iPad – Starting Price $69.99 and up

Again, your phone is probably the most important device when you are faced with a disaster. You should get a case that can protect it. That can withstand the elements and trauma.

· LifeProof iPhone cases and the new LifeProof nüüd Case for iPad are water proof, dirt proof, snow proof and shock proof.
· All of the iPhone 4, iPhone 5 and iPad cases are designed for emergency services, parents, children, , the military and anyone who wants to confidently take their iiPhone and iPad with them everywhere, everyday, and in any kind of weather.
· LifeProof gives you freedom to use your iPhone or iPad in any wet, dirty, or rough situation
· If you are dealing with a situation like Oklahoma, you don’t want to have to worry about dropping the phone and either breaking it or getting it wet and ruining it.
· This can give you a little piece of mind.
· Come in a variety of colors.

SpareOne Phone – Price $99.99 and up

This is one of those products that you don’t need all the time, but if a natural disaster should strike, this is really one that you should have in your emergency kit.

· Works off of one AA battery for up to 10 hours of use.
· Great to have along with your cell phone, and Mophie pack as an extra backup.
· Waterproof bag is floatable and submersible, with talk-through containment and extreme temperature operation, provides you a communication lifeline when all else is potentially destroyed.
· Torchlight can provide up to 24 hours of continuous light.
· Contact emergency services without a SIM, or insert your SIM from your existing phone with no charge left, to continue sending and receiving calls from your original phone number.
· Auto text reply means that if anyone sends you a text, SpareOne will reply with an automatic text response informing them that you cannot read text messages and can be reached via phone calls instead.

Backblaze – Price $5.00 a month

When thinking about the things that you can lose in a disaster, photos, videos and important files are things that come to mind as being irreplaceable. Everyone should have peace of mind that their memories, their work, their digital life is safe.

· A lot of you will lose the precious photos, music, and movies on your computer this year—and not just due to a disaster.
· Backblaze gets them back for you, by automatically keeping your computer backed up to the cloud
· You can even access your files on an iPhone or iPad.

Red Cross Tornado App for iPhone, iPad and Android – Free

· Gives you step-by-step instructions when cell towers and TVs are down.
· Audible siren that automatically goes off even if the app is closed when NOAA issues a TORNADO WARNING
· Red Cross location-based open shelters with a map
· Updates you on information like if a warning expires, learn how many have occurred, the difference between a watch and a warning.
· Has an “I’m Safe” notification sharable through social media, text and email.