App aims to demonstrate hurricane effects in Va.

BROCK VERGAKIS
Associated Press

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A mobile application and website created by Old Dominion University is designed to encourage tourists and residents in southeastern Virginia to evacuate during a major hurricane.

The Hurricane Evacuation Encouragement Demonstrator allows users to type in their home address and view an animated video of what they may experience if they don’t evacuate. If a person lives in an area where no major impact is expected, a video won’t be available.

The tool also provides customized evacuation routes, updated storm tracks and information about emergency shelters and service stations along evacuation routes.

On the website, users must type in an address in Virginia to access the information. Mobile users can use their phone’s GPS to provide their best route as long as they are in Virginia.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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