Cookerly Public Relations Launches Mobile App for Georgia Emergency Management Agency

In partnership with Vert Mobile, agency launches app to help Georgians be “Ready on the go”

(ATLANTA – September 28, 2011) Cookerly Public Relations, in partnership with Vert Mobile, recently created and launched an innovative mobile app for its client, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security (GEMA). The Ready Georgia mobile app gives state residents a new way to prepare, plan and stay informed for emergencies, and is the first mobile app created for a state Ready program, localized versions of the Ready America campaign.

Cookerly kicked off an integrated marketing campaign with a live, interactive webcast from GEMA headquarters for media members and state emergency officials. The agency is leveraging traditional and social media to drive downloads, including the Ready Georgia Facebook page, blog, highly-targeted Facebook advertising, and the use of QR Codes in both online and offline communications. In less than a week, the app was downloaded more than 15,000 times.

“The impetus for the creation of this app came from the increasing use of mobile devices during large scale disasters, such as the Haitian earthquakes and Hurricane Irene,” said Candace McCaffery, senior vice president and director of interactive services & social media for Cookerly Public Relations. “With the explosive growth of the smart phone market in the past few years, application development as a communications and program tool is making sense for more and more of our clients.”

The Ready Georgia app combines a robust set of features not previously available in one mobile application. Before an emergency, users will be able to create customizable checklists of emergency supplies, make disaster plans for their families and check flood risk levels and historic tornado data near their location. During an emergency, the app will deliver severe weather alerts, show the locations of open shelters and provide information on what to do during different types of disasters. It also interacts with the Ready Georgia website to allow users to create and save customized lists of emergency supplies, plans and contact information.

About Cookerly Public Relations
Cookerly Public Relations, based in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, is a multi-disciplinary firm with expertise in the development and execution of communications programs including media relations, crisis communications and issue management, social media strategy and execution, investor relations, event planning, business-to-business marketing/communications and consumer product marketing. The agency's experienced staff develops communications strategies to strengthen client brand images and accelerate long-term growth. For more information, visit www.cookerly.com.

About Ready Georgia
Ready Georgia is a statewide campaign that educates and empowers Georgians to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks, potential terrorist attacks and other large-scale emergencies. The campaign is a project of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)/Homeland Security and provides a local dimension to Ready America, a broader national campaign. Ready Georgia prepares residents for maintaining self-sufficiency for at least three days following an emergency and uses an interactive website, online community toolkit, advertising and public awareness media messaging to reach its audiences. For more information visit ready.ga.gov or find Ready Georgia at Facebook.com/ReadyGA and YouTube.com/ReadyGAfromGEMA.