VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Air Force Civil Engineer Center produced the Be Ready mobile app to help Airmen, their families, and Department of Defense employees prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies, including natural or man-made disasters.
The mobile app is free and gives detailed information covering a wide range of threats including floods, hurricanes and wildfires. It provides emergency numbers and relevant websites as well as customizable family evacuation plans and emergency supply checklists.
“The Be Ready app is a quick, easy app that you can refer to in case you are unsure of how to respond in certain emergency situations,” said Casey Blackburn, 30th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management specialist. “It’s mainly checklist items on how to be prepared for different emergency situations, but it also can be used to take accountability during a recall, has key phone numbers pre-programmed in, and information on how to build an emergency kit.”
The app puts key resources and recommended emergency supply checklists at users’ fingertips. The list can be customized depending on the threat, geographic area or situation. Users can check items off the list as they are added to the emergency kit, and add important data such as phone numbers, insurance policy information and much more.
“It is important that everyone should have a plan, and the contents of your emergency kit should be tailored to you,” said Staff Sgt. Ashley Lexvold, 30th CES emergency management craftsman. “A basic supply list should include water (three day supply for evacuation, two week supply for home), food (non-perishable, easy to prepare items that last for about one year), first- aid kit, blanket, flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, cell phone chargers, manual can opener, spare batteries, important documents (insurance, passports, birth certificates), and a two week supply of medications.”
With wildfire season underway, 30th CES emergency managers encourage Team V members to develop their plans not only geared toward the event of a fire, but also for related dangers. Knowing what to expect and how to prepare makes any crisis more manageable.
The Be Ready mobile app is free and available for Apple devices and Android devices. For more information and resources, contact Vandenberg’s emergency management office at 805-606-4022 or visit http://www.BeReady.af.mil.