Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 2026

MemoryForge, LLC ("we," "us," or "our") operates the CoastWarn mobile application. This Privacy Policy explains what data the app handles and your rights regarding that data.

Data We Collect

CoastWarn has no user accounts and no analytics. Most of what the app needs lives entirely on your device. One thing does leave your device: your device's push token, sent to our alert server so it can push flood alerts even when the app is not open. Here is a plain accounting of both:

• Zip code / station preference — Your selected zip code, tide station, and alert threshold are stored locally on your device (in iOS UserDefaults). Your zip code itself is never transmitted anywhere; it is used on-device to help you find a nearby NOAA station.
• Precise location (optional) — If you grant location access, CoastWarn uses it only to center and frame the station map so you can find a nearby station visually. This location data is never transmitted to our servers, never used for alerts, and never sent to NOAA. It exists only on your device, only while the map is open.
• Water level checks — The app requests publicly available water level data directly from NOAA for your selected station. These requests contain the station ID, not your identity or location.
• Push alerts (device token) — CoastWarn delivers flood alerts three ways: as local notifications generated on your device, and as server-sent push notifications so alerts still arrive if the app is closed or your phone restarts. For the server-push path, your device registers an Apple Push Notification service (APNs) token with our backend, hosted on Railway. Our server stores your device token, your selected NOAA station ID, and your alert threshold, so it knows when to push an alert to your device. We do not store your name, email, precise location, or any other personal identifier alongside that token.

Data We Do Not Collect

CoastWarn does not collect:

• Personal information (name, email, phone number)
• Usage analytics or behavioral data
• Browsing history or activity outside the app
• Advertising identifiers
• Precise location on our servers — location, when granted, stays on your device

Nothing we collect is linked to your identity, and we do not use any of it for tracking, as those terms are defined in Apple's App Store privacy labels.

Third-Party Services

• NOAA CO-OPS — The app retrieves publicly available water level data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. No personal data is shared with NOAA; requests identify only the monitoring station.
• Our alert server (Railway) — CoastWarn's push-alert backend runs on Railway, a third-party hosting provider. It stores your device's push token, selected station ID, and alert threshold solely to deliver flood alerts. It does not run analytics and does not receive your name, email, or precise location.
• Apple Push Notification service (APNs) — Server-sent alerts are delivered through Apple's push notification service, which requires your device's push token in order to route the notification to your device.
• Apple App Store — Your purchase is handled entirely by Apple. We do not receive or store payment information.

Data Retention

Data stored on your device (zip code, station, threshold) is removed when you delete the app. On our alert server, we keep your device token, station ID, and threshold only for as long as your device is registered for push alerts. If Apple reports your push token as no longer valid (for example, after you delete the app), our server removes that device's record. There is no user account, so we have no way to look up your record by name or email; if you want your server-side record removed sooner, contact us at the address below and we will remove it by device token.

Data Security

All communication between the CoastWarn app, NOAA, and our alert server uses HTTPS or Apple's encrypted push channel. We do not sell or share your data with advertisers or data brokers.

Children's Privacy

CoastWarn does not knowingly collect data from children under the age of 13. The app does not require account creation and collects no personal information.

Your Rights

You are in full control: change your station and threshold at any time in Settings, or remove all app data by deleting the app. Deleting the app also causes your device's push token to go invalid with Apple, which triggers removal of your server-side record. If you want it removed sooner, contact us at the address below.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be reflected on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Your continued use of CoastWarn after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact us at support@memoryforge.app.