In 2017, we witnessed a devastating season with three Category 4 storms (Harvey, Irma, and Maria) that hit the U.S.

Right now, we’re still in the middle of hurricane season and have already experienced some bad ones.

And, because we’re not out of the woods yet for the year, I quickly want to share with you the best apps to have on your phone in the event you are caught in the storm.

Hurricane by the American Red Cross. This app is a great all-in-one tool that can provide you with hurricane forecasts as well as real time tracking.

Plus, it has a communication system that can connect you with social media and will direct you to the nearest shelter.

The app also includes step-by-step instructions on what to do before, during, and after a hurricane and has helpful features such as a flashlight, strobe light, and audible alert functions. One of the best things about this app is that most of the information contained in the app will still work even if you are unable to connect to a cellular network. The Hurricane American Red Cross app is free to download.

Life360. This app is a real-time location-sharing app that is ideal for staying in contact with family and friends.

This app sets up a personal network where you can share your location with others, as well as communicate by text on a secure network. In addition, you can set up alerts for when someone leaves a specific area such as their home.

Essentially, you would be able to track loved ones in case they evacuated to another location to get away from rising floodwaters. Lastly, this app can be used to share your location on social media in case you need help or are in any sort of danger.

Scanner Radio. This app lets you listen to local police and fire scanners depending on your specific area. This is a valuable tool for staying up to date on the latest emergency situations and conditions in your area.

For instance, during Hurricane Florence, some cities told residents that their emergency personal wouldn’t respond once the winds had reached sustained gusts of 50 mph. Also, first responders, who are out on the street will typically relay dangerous weather conditions to their dispatch center, which could be valuable information if the storm is headed your way.

Dropbox. You may be wondering why I included Dropbox, but the fact is, this can help you after a disaster. Obviously, any cloud storage would work, but the thing is, before a hurricane strikes you should scan copies of all your important documents and store them in the Dropbox app.

Flooding will completely ruin many personal files, which is why I would scan things such as birth certificates, driver’s licenses, passports, insurance documents, and any other things that are difficult to replace. Dropbox is free up to a certain amount of storage.