New technology locates loved ones in an emergency

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A new program will help you locate loved ones during a disaster.

The American Red Cross recently activated the Patient Locator System, where volunteers will help find the person you're trying to locate.

The program has dedicated phone lines and software that allows volunteers to search admission records at metro hospitals.

"This would pinpoint where the person is, if they are in a hospital or at least give you the peace of mind that they're not in the hospital,” Ken Cope of the American Red Cross said. “I think that's the number one importance. The secondary importance, benefit of course, is to the hospitals not being inundated with unnecessary calls."

Kansas City is one of two cities in the nation to have this program.

The number is only active during times of disaster, like the Joplin tornado, or more recently, the Aurora, Colo., theater shooting.

The American Red Cross will give out the number you can call if a disaster happens.