By Nadia Brown

In an era dominated by technology, it’s essential to recognize which digital and tech items you need to include in your disaster readiness plan. The American Red Cross offers several preparedness and recovery tools to help you prepare for and guide you through natural disasters and other crises.

Communication: Reliable communication is one of the most crucial tech tools during a natural disaster. Include a cell phone, smartphone, tablet or other device in your disaster preparedness kit.

Portable Chargers: All tech gadgets need power. You need one or more portable chargers or backup power sources for your devices in your kit. They are indispensable and will help you stay plugged in, connected and informed.

Emergency Apps: Having emergency apps downloaded on your devices is critical. You can use them to stay current with emergency updates in your area and as general resources for news, weather alerts and first aid. The Red Cross Emergency and First Aid apps are essential. Check out all the Red Cross apps here. Downloading the FEMA app is also recommended.

Emergency Contacts: Make sure you have emergency contacts listed and readily accessible on all your devices. After a disaster, you will need to reach out to family and friends to let them know your status. Favorite contacts by clicking the star icon and add certain people as emergency contacts in your smartphone settings. Setting your emergency contacts in your smart device will help guide you through a crisis.

Offline Maps: Recognizing where you are in a crisis is also important. You can locate nearby places by downloading a map to your phone or printing a physical map, even when the internet is not working.

Backup Devices: Having a backup cellphone in case your primary one stops working is just as important as having additional power sources and other backup devices. Generators, solar chargers, hand-crank radios and other items are helpful in case of power and internet outages.

Light Source: Everyone needs a flashlight or lantern. If a power outage occurs, ensure you’re prepared by having a durable flashlight, headlamp or other power-efficient light source.

The Red Cross aims to ensure your readiness during a natural disaster. Prepare by taking the correct measures. Utilizing digital essentials can make a significant difference in times of crisis.