San Diego County officials are reaching out to smart phone owners, in an effort to help them get the latest information during a major emergency.
They released a new app Thursday that works on both iPhone and Android smartphones. San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts said a person can already use the app to see the information on the Shockey Fire in southern San Diego County.
That fire is responsible for one death. The flames burned down 11 homes and blackened more the 2,500 acres near the Shockey Truck Trail. On the app, a person can dial up a detailed map which shows where precisely where the flames were. There is also information about the state of the firefighting effort.
"It is free and it is easy to use," said Roberts. "It'll help you to plan, to prepare and to respond for any one of a whole plethora of emergencies. And if San Diego County residents know one thing, they know that we need to be prepared for disasters."
County officials said smart phones are already in the hands of about 45 percent of the people who carry mobile phones and that number is growing.
If the cell phone network goes down during an emergency, county officials said the information can be found online at the county's web site. They said the apps just make it easier and faster to get information out.
