Hurricane Center Privacy Policy
Effective and last updated: October 16, 2026
This privacy policy applies to the Hurricane Center applications for iPhone and iPad
(Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play package com.coudriet.hurricanewatch.android).
The apps are developed and published by Christopher Coudriet, operating as
Crushed Box Software ("we," "us," or "our").
Hurricane Center is an independent application and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Hurricane Center (NHC), or the
National Weather Service (NWS).
Information We Process
-
Location: Hurricane Center does not request or use your device location (GPS or
network location). Firebase Analytics, described below, derives approximate location such as your
country or region from your IP address.
-
Push-notification and alert settings: If you enable alerts, we process a
push-notification token, an app-installation identifier, the device type and operating-system
version, the app version, and the alert channels you choose (for example a hurricane basin or a
storm you follow) so notifications can be delivered to your device. On iPhone and iPad we also
process the app icon badge count.
-
App activity and diagnostics: We use Firebase Analytics, Crashlytics, and
Performance Monitoring to understand app usage, diagnose crashes, and improve reliability.
Diagnostic information may include device type, operating-system version, app version, language,
IP address (from which approximate location is derived), performance data, crash traces, and
general app interactions. Firebase Remote Config
delivers settings and announcements to the app, and Firebase App Check (Apple App Attest or Google
Play Integrity) confirms that requests come from the genuine app.
-
Maps and weather data: The iPhone and iPad apps display maps with Apple Maps and
the Android app uses the Google Maps SDK, which receive requests that include your IP address and
device information. The apps also download public weather data, forecasts, and imagery directly from
weather services such as the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service, which can
see your IP address when you connect.
-
Purchase information: Apple (App Store) or Google Play processes in-app purchases.
We receive purchase status and product entitlement information, but we do not receive or store your
full payment-card information.
-
Local storage and subscriptions: Map settings, your last map position, recent alert
history, and local purchase status are stored on your device. When you enable notifications,
selected basin and followed-storm subscription channels are sent to our backend to deliver the
alerts you request. Purchase verification and restoration use transaction or entitlement information.
Hurricane Center has no accounts and no advertising, and it does not collect an advertising identifier.
How We Use Information
We process this information only as needed to:
- provide hurricane and tropical-storm information, forecasts, outlooks, maps, and alerts;
- deliver notifications selected by the user;
- restore and verify in-app purchase entitlements;
- protect the app and backend services from abuse; and
- monitor reliability, investigate failures, and improve the app.
Service Providers
The apps use services that may process information under their own privacy policies:
- Google Play services, Google Maps, and Google Play Billing (Android)
- Apple App Store, Apple Maps, and Apple Push Notification service (iPhone and iPad)
- Google Firebase for messaging, analytics, crash reporting, performance monitoring, remote configuration, storage, and app integrity
- NOAA/National Hurricane Center/National Weather Service for public weather information
We also operate backend services, hosted with DigitalOcean, that store notification subscriptions
and route storm alerts. We do not sell personal information.
Retention and Deletion
Notification registration data is retained while needed to provide alerts and may be removed when
it is no longer active. Diagnostic and analytics data is retained according to the applicable
service provider's retention settings. You may disable notifications in your device's system
settings or turn off alert subscriptions in the app. To request deletion of data associated with
your installation, contact us using the address below and include the installation ID shown in the
app's Settings screen if you can.
Analytics and Diagnostics
Firebase Analytics, Crashlytics, and Performance Monitoring process app activity and diagnostics to help improve reliability and usability. Contact us with an installation ID for privacy or deletion requests. Notification delivery, app-integrity checks, Remote Config, weather requests, and purchase verification operate independently of these services.
Security
We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect information. No method of
electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, so absolute security cannot be guaranteed.
Children's Privacy
The apps are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information
from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us so we
can investigate and delete it where appropriate.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy when the apps, their services, or legal requirements change. Updates will be
posted on this page with a revised effective date.
Contact Us
Christopher Coudriet
Crushed Box Software
support@crushedboxsoftware.com