MS Launches New MS Ready 2015 National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month and one state is continuing to improve on lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina.

The Mississippi State Department of Health is updating its emergency preparedness app, called "MS Ready." The application provides disaster preparedness tips, as well as the ability to communicate a one-touch "I'm Safe" message, and is available for free in the app stores for both Apple and Android mobile devices. More information, and links to the apps, can be found at: HealthyMS.com/connect.

MS Ready App from Mississippi State Department of Health via http://msdh.ms.gov/

In addition to providing location-based weather alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and notifications about emerging diseases, there is also an audible siren that will sound if a tornado warning is issued for the area, which the MSDH website says will work even if the app is closed at the time (but not if the phone is off).