U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Lists Recommended Disaster Apps
| App Icon | App Download | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
National Hurricane Center | National Hurricane Center mobile enhanced web page provides access to critical hurricane advisories and marine forecasts. |
 |
National Weather Service | National Weather Service mobile enhanced web page provides weather, hydrologic, and climage forecasts and warnings for the United States. |
 |
Disaster Alert | Disaster Alert developed by Pacific Disaster Center provides access to information in both a list and on an interactive map about active hazards occurring around the globe. |
On January 31, in Security Management magazine, the Disaster Information Management Research Center at the National Library of Medicine released a Staff Report called “Disaster Apps and Mobile Optimized Web Pages for First Responders and the Public.” The Library and Research Center are components of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. On the list, along with 10 “disaster medicine apps/websites” and eight “disaster resource” listings, PDC’s Disaster Alert appears, as above—the only global app for hazard and disaster monitoring, worldwide.
Disaster Alert is a free-download app, available for iOS and Android devices, and provides up-to-date information about hazard events and disasters around the globe.
The Library applies very demanding selection criteria, provided by the National Institutes of Health, which include consideration of the app/website publisher-organization’s goals and mission; the authority, credibility, and affiliation(s) of the organization; the quality of the information provided, it’s sources, the credentials of the presenters of the information; the organization’s non-commercial intent; how well the information is kept current and whether the point-of-view of the publisher is in conflict with that of the Library and HHS. They also consider accessibility and ease of use, and they prefer information resources that do not demand registration or other encumbrances. Naturally, to be featured by HHS and the National Library of Medicine, an app must be available in English, as well.
PDC Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai said, “We are very excited to find our Disaster Alert app featured by HHS alongside the very best, especially, given the department’s high standards. We are constantly working to enhance the app and improve the timing, accuracy, and breadth of hazard information based on real user feedbacks.”
Disaster Alert has already surpassed a million downloads worldwide in little over a year after its release, and continues to be the only global multi-hazard monitoring app offered free to the public. A web-based version of the information is also available to the public in the PDC’s Global Hazards Atlas.
PDC applies advances in science and technologies to promote Disaster Risk Reduction practices. For more information about PDC, visit www.pdc.org, or follow hazard news on Twitter (twitter.com/disasteraware) and Facebook (facebook.com/disasteraware).
- The Security Management magazine report with many links to additional resources.
- The USA Today article referenced by HHS, “Japan Quake Popularizes Disaster Apps,” is available online.
- At home or office, follow this event or any hazard using PDC’s Global Hazards Atlas.
- On the go? Download PDC’s free Disaster Alert app for your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and Android devices.
- For weather related bulletins and to access Disaster News (RSS) use the PDC Weather Wall.
