Google Maps update could save lives during natural disaster

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Google Maps is useful for finding directions to a gas station or discovering new restaurants in your neighbourhood, but it could also now save your life during a natural disaster.

On Thursday, Google announced its SOS alerts, which were introduced two years ago, were being updated to include real-time visual information and a navigation warning system in times of crisis to help users best understand what they need to do to stay safe, the New York Post reports.

At first, SOS alerts would show users vital information about a crisis, including a summary of the event, relevant news stories and Twitter posts, emergency phone numbers and tips. But following the latest update, Google Maps features “detailed visualisations about hurricanes, earthquakes and floods” as well.

“In the days leading up to a hurricane, you’ll see a crisis notification card on Google Maps that automatically appears if you’re near the impacted area,” Hannah Stulberg, product manager of Google Maps, explains.

“This card will direct you to a hurricane forecast cone, which shows the prediction of the storm’s trajectory along with information about what time it’s likely to hit certain areas, so you can use this information to plan how to react.”

Google Maps will have a similar crisis card for earthquakes, showing earthquake shakemaps following the strike, users where the epicentre of the earthquake was, the quakes magnitude and how much it affected surrounding areas. And flood forecasts will show you where flooding is likely to occur and how severe it will be.

Google is also using the crisis information directly in Google Maps by displaying a prominent alert as you navigate from one location to the next to let you know if your route is affected by crisis activity.

Hurricane forecast cones and earthquake shakemaps will begin to roll out on iOS, Android, desktop and the mobile web around the world in the coming weeks. Flood forecasts visualisations will be exclusive to India, where flooding occurs on a frequently. And navigation warnings will hit iOS and Android this summer.