Hurricane Preparedness Gets New App

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

The nonprofit announced today that 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. You can also get the app by dialing **redcross from your mobile phone to generate a text message with a download link.

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.

Hurricane Season's Peak

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 and left behind historic devastation.

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% probability for each of the following ranges of activity during 2012:

• 9-15 Named Storms,
• 4-8 Hurricanes
• 1-3 Major Hurricanes
• An Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) range of 65%-140% of the median.