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SALT LAKE CITY — The Red Cross has a new app for floods that does more than give weather alerts. When a powerful storm hit South Carolina earlier this month, volunteers from Utah were there to help.
"At last count, we had half a dozen volunteers still in South Carolina," Rich Woodruff, director of communications for the Utah region of the American Red Cross, said.
Right now, they are helping with recovery efforts.
"We meet with people that have been affected by the floods, and we sit down and assess their needs," Woodruff said.
Saturday night, Red Cross volunteers based in St. George were also on alert because of flash flood warnings that bring to mind, the devastation there last month.
"We are on standby and could respond quickly if we need to," Woodruff said. "As you know, last month was a tragic month for Utah, with the flash flooding down in southern Utah."
The new Red Cross app, which is specifically for floods, is valuable during times like this.
We meet with people that have been affected by the floods, and we sit down and assess their needs.
–Rich Woodruff, director of communications for the Utah region of the American Red Cross said.
"The real-time information is of course important," he said. "It's got GPS and it's tied to the National Weather Service."
People can get real-time information about flooding and flash floods.
"It sounds alerts, basically so it's got a strobe light, it's got a siren that goes off."
Users can track weather in other states too and send a message to friends and family — features, he said, that help provide peace of mind.
"It gives you the opportunity to connect with family members to let them know you are safe," Woodruff said. "It's information-rich, and it's life-saving."
There are many tools and features on the app, including information on how to prepare for severe weather and how to find Red Cross shelters.
One can also test their knowledge, for example, of how a car can be moved in only six inches of water.
All Red Cross apps can be found on the website.
