I am currently on a week-long trip in Israel sponsored by the American Israel Education Fund. Last night we got back from a dinner program only to have a Red Alert go off as missiles were inbound into Jerusalem from Gaza. This will be the reality during our stay I fear, and a new app — Red Alert Israel — will be a helpful guide.
Here’s what Happened last night …
I was leaving my room to go for a walk in Jerusalem when the sirens went off. I was about to get the elevator downstairs when someone told me that was not a good move. So we went into the stairwell (the hotel stairwells in Israel are hardened and can often double as bomb shelters) and waited for the all clear. We then went downstairs and began looking for information on where the missiles had hit. With Red Alert Israel the information and sent to my iPad rather than my trying to search the web for information.
The app sends realtime alerts when missiles are inbound and lets you choose the location or locations where the attack is taking place. It then shows you on a map where the attack is. Perhaps the best way to understand this app is with this review comment on the iTunes App Store.