Best tech products to have in case of wildfires and other disasters
Landing at Los Angeles International Airport still feels surreal even a week after firestorms torched 12,000 homes, businesses and structures, and killed at least 24 people in Los Angeles.
There’s still a faint smoky smell, and our eyes burn as we walk from the airport to our rental car.
The hotel near Universal Studios that we booked last minute is filled with evacuees and their pets. People everywhere are incredibly kind to us — from the man checking us into the hotel, to the security guard at the TV studio where I’m about to go on air and talk about tech tools to help deal with disasters. They take a moment to look us in the eyes with an unspoken, “Are you okay?” We smile and thank them, hoping to communicate the same back. The atmosphere feels so fragile.
Everyone here is affected
Today infernos whipped by a perfect storm of high winds and drought conditions hit the Western edges of the United States especially hard. But tomorrow’s catastrophe could be any number of other extreme disasters across the map. As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of dire calamities, here are a few key apps and gadgets making a big difference in times of crisis.
This is hands-down the number one wildfire-warning app to add to your smartphone right now, especially if you live in one of the 22 states it currently covers.
They use an automated system that monitors 911 dispatch and other emergency calls and flags related to fires. The minute a call comes in, the system sends messages to a team of active and retired firefighters, first responders and reporters — people from all around the world monitoring public sources, scanners, cameras, satellites and more — to gather and vet as much information as possible. Everything gets cross-checked, uploaded and updated in real-time as the situations evolve.
The app forwards alerts about evacuations, where to find shelter, wind direction, weather forecasts and tracks air quality. It’s free to use because it's run by a nonprofit, but an optional $25/year subscription helps the team keep it up and running.
The official FEMA app is a handy resource everyone should download and update as part of “adulting.” Emergency preparedness is more crucial than ever, and waiting until disaster strikes to have a plan is always too late.
The app is an excellent resource for preparing what to pack in your emergency go-bag, ways to mitigate potential damage, learn how evacuations work, and figure out items to include in a pet emergency kit, too. It’s constantly updated with new information for people affected by any disaster, from severe storms to earthquakes and beyond.
With built-in notifications, the FEMA app tells you if you’re in a watch or warning zone so you can plan accordingly. It also points to relief and recovery centers if you’re impacted or need to evacuate. FEMA is a government agency, so the app is entirely free. It’s one of those apps everyone should have, even if they don’t think they need it.
This app was initially designed for off-grid travelers and the growing number of people caught in climate disasters who may need a first-aid encyclopedia without an active internet or cellular connection. But the company’s technology chief lives close to the Sunset Fire in LA, and he discovered that air-quality information from GOES was more accurate than any other resource he could find.
With built-in location-specific guidance, the app caters to current conditions, whether they involve extreme temperatures, the risk of dangerous wildlife, poor air quality, or even UV exposure. Its offline library of medical information comes in handy when cell service is miles away. The app addresses over 60 medical topics with hundreds of pieces of advice, information and recommendations.
It’s free to try, and the premium subscription is $36 per year after that.
Treating physical injuries or ailments is often critical, but when the dust settles, our mental health can take the brunt of the damage. It’s essential to treat our minds with the same care as we treat our bodies, and the Feeling Great app’s AI-powered chatbot is packed with tools to help make sense of even the most complex and distressing situations.
The app is based on decades of work by Dr. David Burns, a Stanford professor and best-selling author who popularized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — now considered by many to be the gold standard of mental health treatment — in his clinical practice. The app’s AI uses over 100 techniques to address negative feelings, providing guidance along the way to challenge negative thoughts and assess changes.
It’s free to try, with an annual subscription priced at $99.
Scammers are out in full force
Countless donations and charity efforts are collecting funds to help people impacted by disasters, with the California wildfires being the latest large-scale example.
Unfortunately, these well-meaning programs can bring out the worst in people. The scammers are out in full force online and in person, pretending to raise money for good causes or even posing as FEMA inspectors. Here are some quick tips to help steer clear of crooks and thieves:
- Don’t respond to unsolicited emails, texts or phone calls, especially if they seem urgent and require action immediately. That sense of urgency is a common way to dupe people while emotions run high.
- GoFundMe created a centralized online hub with all verified fundraising pages related to the Los Angeles-area wildfires.
- Verify the website is securely encrypted — look for a gray lock icon.
- Never respond to requests for gift cards or personal information.
- For fire victims: Beware of people soliciting you — and telling you they can file your FEMA report and get you paid faster.
- Legitimate FEMA inspectors always wear an official government badge to identify themselves. You may ask the person to show their identification. FEMA inspectors will never:
- Ask for money or banking information.
- Ask for your nine-digit registration number — which is included in their records.
- Charge for an inspection process is free.
Gadgets to the rescue
Once you get into emergency preparation, it can be easy to go overboard, but you don’t have to go full “doomsday prepper” to give yourself and your loved ones a leg up if something terrible happens. I keep a few gadgets with the just-in-case mindset that don’t break my bank account but give me some added peace of mind.
Backup battery power
Ecoflow and Jackery have earned their golden reputations in the backup power space through many years and countless product launches. Both are solid picks for keeping everything from your refrigerator to your laptops and smartphones powered in an emergency.
My current go-to is the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2, an updated version of one of the company’s most popular backup battery systems.
This thing is small but mighty, with a 1500W output and over 1000Wh capacity. It can recharge your gadgets dozens of times over, so you’re never without a fully charged phone, tablet or laptop. It’s built for emergency use and is super rugged. It can charge from 0% to 100% in as little as one hour, making it the ideal backup when your life turns upside down.
At $799, it’s an easy win and takes up very little space. I also added solar panels to mine, which are incredibly helpful when the power goes out, and you’re not sure when it might come back on.
Portable device chargers
I always carry. It can charge two devices simultaneously, such as my phone and laptop, and holds an impressive 10,000mAh of juice, enough to top up my iPhone or Android smartphone multiple times.
It’s also made of 90% recycled plastic and is carbon neutral, so I feel good about using it. Oh, and it’s TSA-approved, so you won’t have any issues getting it through security checkpoints. For $60, you really can’t go wrong.
Air purifiers
I have kept Coway’s Airmega Mighty on hand as my air-purifying guardian angel ever since I took a deep dive into the world of cleaner-air gadgets back in 2020. At the time, I lived in an area of Oakland, California with some of the worst ongoing air quality in America. Wildfire smoke turned our skies an otherworldly orange and forced us all indoors for weeks at a time.
It has a four-stage filter structure and can pump through nearly 1,800 square feet of indoor air in just one hour. Indoor pollution is no joke, and if you’re downwind from wildfires or any other air quality nightmare, you, your family, and your pets will all breathe easier with a powerful air filtration system on hand.
Surprisingly affordable at $163 for the unit and just $60 for a filter set, it’s a great pick for dealing with all kinds of air issues from fires to allergy season.
When it comes to air quality, remember, you want HEPA for filtering and carbon for cleaning.
(This story has been updated to correct a typo in a photo caption.)
Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air contributor for "The Today Show.” The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Paste BN. Contact her at JJ@Techish.com or @JennJolly in Instagram.