We all know people that have cell phones and they only have them “in case of emergency.” Usually, this emergency they are talking about involves them. They run out of gas, they break down on the side of the road, they use the phone to get help. I know for me it can be frustrating because if YOU need their help, they don’t have their phones on, so from my point of view they may as well not have one! But that is a another topic for another day…
But when I woke up to WABI, TV5 and Todd Simcox, he was telling us that we need to “keep an eye to the sky” for thunderstorms breaking out and the potential for some of them being severe. That made me think about how we get our information and how my cell phone is KEY in me getting it. So is your cell phone working for you to keep you safe?
You may take your kids to Little League or soccer practice, maybe you are at the beach or the golf course, the one thing that remains constant – your cell phone is with you, right? Well start thinking about your phone as more than a phone. You can sign up for weather alerts to go to your phone, keeping you in the loop with the latest warnings. Now I am a bit crazy with my phone, (right Central Maine Wireless?) I have a mobile facebook application, I have Uber Twitter for my phone, BUT I have an app from the Weather Channel where I can always check on radar and I can use the internet to see the mobile site for WABI TV5 to stay connected to anything that is happening or going to happen. (Make sure to check with your cell phone provider for options and if there are any additional charges for text or data services.)
This is a simple way to make sure you know when it is time to take cover, check to see if where you are going is in the warning area. Don’t be overwhelmed, just try one tool at a time until you find one that works to help you accomplish what you need to accomplish. I started using weather alerts because I am on the road often and I would like to know (especially in winter) what the weather is where I am going, in Maine we often have several weather changes along the way and this can be problematic when it is snowing where you start, raining at the end and freezing rain in between! Your reasons may be different, but still these things are helpful and real time savers.
*Photo credit clikr.com
I think that current weather information is perhaps the most valueable applicaiton of my phone. I use weather bug for Blackberry and have the National Weather Service site bookmarked. I regularly use the land and marine forecasts along with the current radar maps. Save my life? Not yet because I have learned to watch teh sky constantly but it does provide another excellent real time wource of information.
I like all of the other things my phone can do but weather information is the most valueable to me.