By Wendy Burton
Phoenix Staff Writer
—
A Muskogee man launched his first iPhone app Wednesday — one that allows people in a hurricane, tornado or other major weather emergency to find a nearby shelter with just a few taps.
Open Shelters is a free application, developed by Melvin Bass, that receives streaming data updates every 20 to 30 minutes.
The user receives the name and address of the shelter, the total capacity of the shelter, and the number of people already taking shelter there with just a few taps on their iPhone screen.
“This is specifically designed to be accessible when you’re in the middle of an evacuation of some kind,” Bass said. “You’re on the go. You’re moving. Listen to the emergency station on the radio and use this app to give you shelter options in the middle of the crisis.”
Bass said he hoped to release the application before Hurricane Earl threatened North Carolina. It was released by Apple on Aug. 31.
“I desperately wish I had been a week quicker,” Bass said Thursday.
Bass was born in Muskogee and, though he left to work in Missouri at one point, said he found his way back to Muskogee.
“I got to mess with my first computer at A.R. when I was 13,” Bass said. “I love computers.”
His father was a person who helped other people during emergencies, and was an influence on his decision to make the shelter locator a free app.
“My dad helped get Brushy Mountain Fire Department running. He was a former emergency management man,” Bass said. “It’s in my blood.”
The app will continue to be free, Bass said.
“This is life and death stuff,” he said. “If you can help someone in an emergency, then you just do it and you don’t charge the people who need to use it.”
Reach Wendy Burton at 684-2926 or wburton@muskogeephoenix.com.
What to do
You can download the Open Shelters application through iTunes app store or go to www.openshelters.net for a download link.
