A cornerstone of being prepared for any type of disaster is being aware of what is going on around you. Since natural disasters can happen with little to no notice, it is important to do everything you can to stay informed. With today’s advancement in technology, it is easier than ever to get alerts about what is going on in your area.

Know What Natural Disasters Are In Your Area

When moving to a new state, we recommend finding out what natural disasters your area is prone to. To help, we have created an interactive map that’ll inform you of what natural disasters are in your area. We recommend customizing your 72-hour kits to different types of weather conditions that you may experience. Ready Store Alert Map Ready Store is committed to helping you get notifications for emergencies in your area. We've spent tons of time researching the best resources, feeds and social media accounts that you'll want to use. Check out our US Alert Map and be sure to share it with friends. Google Public Alerts Google has always been a reliable source for information. With Google Public Alerts, not only do you have access to weather warnings but also current events going on around the world. The program is still growing and perfecting but it’s an awesome addition to preppers repertoire. The system also provides information on where emergency responders should go.

A new feature for Google Maps, which launched Wednesday, allows you to quickly find emergency alerts in your town or around the world. Called Google Public Alerts, the new feature draws on weather, public safety, and earthquake alerts from federal agencies to supplement Google Map searches. (Read the article at PCWorld.)

There are also a number of other resources that preppers can use to be notified of alerts, disasters or coming storms. Public alerts like "tornado in Kansas" from US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and US Geological Survey (USGS) will also be available on Google maps. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) Messages Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) send authorized government messages right to your phone of any natural disasters going on in your area. Government partners include local and state public agencies, FEMA, the FCC, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Weather Service (NWS). Alerts You'll Receive:

• Extreme weather warnings
• Local emergencies requiring evacuation or immediate action
• AMBER Alerts
• Presidential Alerts during a national emergency
• Tsunami warnings
• Tornado and Flash Flood warnings
• Hurricane, typhoon, dust storm and extreme wind warnings

National Weather Service The National Weather Service (NWS) will bring you latest forecasts, weather conditions and real-time maps across the United States. Thunderstorms, lightning strikes, hurricanes, droughts, you name it. You can find it easily on this site.  The site also offers customized alerts based on the state you live in as well. Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) This is a great resource for international weather happenings. They notify you about earthquakes, tropical cyclones, and man-made emergencies that could spread internationally. They also have a Twitter account that they update regularly.