Justin Fogle, of College Parks, fills a sandbag at the Orange County distribution site at Barnett Park in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, ahead of the forecast for the possibility of heavy rains in Central Florida.Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP
While the Atlantic hurricane season has been unexpectedly quiet this year, Tropical Storm Helene is rapidly gaining strength as it heads toward the eastern part of Florida’s panhandle, where it’s projected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane Friday night.
But a lot can change between now and then. A hurricane can change course or gain strength, as happened with Hurricane Otis in 2023, when it intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in 12 hours.
Those changes can throw off people planning to hunker down for a tropical storm or weaker hurricane but suddenly rush out of town when faced with something more deadly.
Preparing for hurricanes is part of life for people on the Gulf Coast, particularly in states hit hardest, such as Florida, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Some people are perpetually prepared, keeping canned food, gasoline, flashlights, batteries, and copies of essential documents ready at all times.
Some people even have plans for their pets, while others leave everything to the last minute, causing bare shelves in grocery stores and long lines at gas stations and roads leading out of town.
But even if you are one of those people who does everything at the last minute, there are many ways that technology you may already have can help at a moment’s notice. Most in the palm of your hand.
Weather apps: Probably the simplest and easiest way to stay informed is by using real-time weather apps like NOAA Weather Radar, AccuWeather, or the Weather Channel to track a hurricane’s path, get up-to-the-minute forecasts, and receive push notifications about storm surges, wind speeds, and rainfall predictions for your location.
Emergency alerts: Sign up for local and national emergency notifications via platforms like FEMA’s mobile app, local government text alerts, and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). These systems provide real-time warnings about hurricanes, evacuation orders, and critical safety information.
Battery backups: Portable power banks and solar chargers vary in price and capacity, but they are great for keeping phones, tablets, and essential devices charged when the power goes out. If you can, invest in higher-capacity battery packs that can power multiple devices or even small appliances for extended periods during a blackout.
But don’t forget that electric vehicles can also provide power during an emergency and may even be able to keep the lights on in your home for days. Ford claims that its electric F-150 extended-range vehicle can power a home for up to three days. But you will need a special vehicle-to-home or grid charger, which can be pricey.
Read more: How to prepare cats and dogs for hurricanes and other climate disasters.
Social media: Follow official government accounts, local news outlets, and weather authorities on platforms like X and Facebook for updates and safety information. Use hashtags like #HurricanePrep to connect with others and get real-time local updates on shelter availability and road conditions.
GPS navigation: Use GPS apps like Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps to monitor road closures, flooded areas, and traffic conditions in real time. These tools help you plan evacuation routes and find alternative paths for blocked or congested roads.
Smart home devices: Install smart devices such as water leak sensors, flood detection alarms, and security cameras that notify you if your home is flooded or has a security breach. Devices like Nest and Ring can provide remote monitoring and alerts even if you’re evacuated.
Online storage: This can take just a few minutes and may save time getting your life back together after a disaster. Back up important documents (e.g., insurance policies, identification papers, and home inventories) to cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud. This ensures you can access critical documents remotely if your physical copies are damaged or lost in the storm.
This can be as simple as taking pictures on your phone. You can email them to yourself for an extra backup.
Digital generators: Smart generators are expensive, but they offer obvious advantages. They can be controlled from your phone and automatically kick in when the power goes out, allowing you to monitor fuel levels and usage remotely through smartphone apps. This is handy if you’re away and need power to keep your house cool and secured or ensure the goldfish doesn’t die.
Communication apps: Use messaging and communication apps like WhatsApp, Signal, or Zello (a push-to-talk app that works like a walkie-talkie) to stay in contact with family, friends, and emergency services when phone lines are down or overloaded. These apps work when cellular services are down, even with limited internet access. Some apps don’t need internet access at all.
Drones: This is part of preparing to recover. After the hurricane, drones can assess property damage and inspect areas that may be unsafe to access on foot. Equipped with cameras, drones allow you to safely check roofs, flooded areas, and damage to infrastructure while avoiding dangerous conditions.
