Hurricane Florence prep: Smartphone apps to help you stay safe

(FOX 46 WJZY) - When Hurricane Florence hits and everyone is scrambling, either on the go or without electricity, there are a few apps that can help you get the information you need to stay safe and stay in touch with friends and family.

Here are some useful apps for cell phones and/or tablets:

Red Cross Hurricane: This free app gives you NOAA alerts and a way to connect with loved ones. It includes a flashlight (so do most phones), an alarm (also on most phones) and a strobe light. Red Cross also offers first aid apps for people and for pets that could come in handy (as well as apps specifically for tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and wildfires). It works on Apple and Android devices. Check out all the options at redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.

RELATED: Hurricane Florence expected to linger over Carolinas for days

How to preserve your cell phone battery: