New App Can Help Prepare for Hurricanes

Last year, during Tropical Irene the , power outages and other storm-related problems. In the event of another powerful storm this season, the Red Cross wants to make sure you're prepared. 

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

The nonprofit recently announced 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.

For local information on being prepared before a storm, see the website of the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

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 when .

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

• Nine-15 named storms
• Four to eight hurricanes
• One to three major hurricanes
• An accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) range of 65 percent to 140 percent of the median.

The outlook is scheduled to be updated early this month, the center states.