Hurricane Preparedness Gets New App

Whether you have an iPhone or Android, the American Red Cross wants to make it easy for Babylon residents to be prepared during hurricanes.

The non-profit has recently announced its new Hurricane App is available for free download in both the iPhone App Store and the Google Play Store for Androids - simply by searching American Red Cross.

Residents could also get the app by dialing **redcross from their mobile phones to generate a text message with a download link.

“This app gives you important information and tools to use before, during and after the storm,” said Mario Bruno, CEO of the American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region.

“With Hurricane season heating up, this is a great time to download our free app to check your readiness and add one more tool to your home preparedness kit.”

The app features important safety information, real-time hurricane tracking and tools to let loved ones and friends know that you’re safe and well.

According to the National Weather Service, the Atlantic hurricane season peaks in August and extends through September. It was the end of August last year when ripped through Babylon Village, Long Island and the entire Northeast.

On May 24 the NWS' Climate Prediction Center released its outlook for the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season. That reads, in part:

Given the current and expected conditions, combined with model forecasts and possible competing factors, we estimate a 70 percent probability for each of the following ranges of activity during 2012:

• Nine to 15 Named Storms.
• Four to Eight Hurricanes.
• One to Three Major Hurricanes.
• An Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) range of 65 percent to 140 percent of the median.

The outlook is scheduled to be updated early this month, the Center said.