Carroll County Promotes Disaster Preparedness Through App

WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) -- Carroll County officials have introduced a mobile app that sends emergency alerts to residents.

Carroll Emergency Management assistant coordinator Valerie Hawkins tells the Carroll County Times that the app, known as Prepare Me Carroll, is meant to inform residents of events like flash floods, road closures and power outages in an easy and timely manner. It sends push notifications to users to issue safety reminders when hazardous weather is imminent.

In addition to emergency alerts, the app has other features, such as an interactive emergency kit checklist and a link to the National Weather Service forecast.

The app is free of charge thanks to funding from a Department of Homeland Security Urban Area Security Initiative grant. It can be downloaded in both the Apple and Android app stores.

(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)