Prince George, B.C. –  Today marks the start of Emergency Preparedness week,  and  to kick start  the week the Red Cross  has  released an app designed to help  users get the information  they need to  either prepare for  emergency situations,   or to take action  in the event of a disaster.

The Red Cross Be Ready app  includes live weather feeds as well as interactive learning tools to help  people learn  how to prepare their homes and families before, during and after disasters and emergencies.

Only 47% of Canadians say they have any type of emergency supply kit in their homes. The Red Cross says even fewer have an alternate source of water available should anything happen to their usual supply.  “The Canadian Red Cross recommends keeping enough supplies on hand to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours in the event of a disaster or up to 2 weeks in a health emergency,” said Debra Molesworth with the Canadian Red Cross. “We can’t control when or where a disaster will happen, but being prepared can help mitigate the impact disasters have on people, families and communities.”

The Be Ready app is free and is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android devices