Despite how far modern technology has come – the truth remains: we cannot prevent a disaster from happening. Knowing this, the best thing to do is prepare in advance. With just a little advance preparation, you’ll know where to go, what to do, and how to recover.

These days, modern technology is making that process of getting ready even easier. Here’s a quick of websites and mobile apps that can help in your preparedness efforts:

1.     Google’s MyMaps service lets you plan an emergency route using landmarks, lines, and shapes. And if you have a smartphone, you can share or access that route right from the palm of your hand. Of course, during a disaster you can’t always count on cell service being available, so the low-tech option of printing a hard copy of your emergency route is still the best option. Makes ure everyone in your family has a copy.

2.     Twitter is one way to stay in touch with loved ones during a disaster. Unlike blogging services that allow users to post comments only from their computers, Twitter lets posters "tweet" from cell phones, smart phones and computers. All tweets -- 140-character messages -- are sent to the user's Twitter page online, but others can sign up to receive them via their own cell phones, smartphones and computers. After the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, there are reports of people reuniting with loved ones because of messages exchanged via Twitter. So try out a Twitter account now so you’ve got the connections with your family and friends in place before a disaster. You can even create a Twitter list of local emergency services site (including the Red Cross!) to get up-to-the-minute information during an emergency.

3.     The Red Cross Youtube Channel has dozens of videos on how to prepare for emergencies. Check out the Jamie Lee Curtis series of short videos on topics like how to create an emergency kit. It only takes a couple of minutes, and you’ve got a complete shopping list to get started.

Those are just a few options – and trust me, once you start looking, there are hundreds of ways to prepare yourself and your family using new technology. Know of one you want to share? Leave it in the comments below!