google Crisis response

Google publishes Crisis Response map for Boulder, Colorado

September 13, 2013

Similar to maps that Google has released in the past for places like Alberta and Moore, they’ve just published a Crisis Response map to assist with the flooding in Boulder, Colorado.

You can view the map online here, or grab this KML file to view much of the data inside of Google Earth.

The map includes information about area shelters, road closures, weather advisories and more.

If you’re in or near the affected area, this is a valuable resource to have access to. You’re also encouraged to visit the Boulder Office of Emergency Management, City of Longmont Emergency Information and the Colorado Department of Transportation sites for additional information.

The team behind Google.org does some amazing work, and I was fortunate enough to meet a few of the people behind it when I was at the Where Conference last year. Learning more about what they do was eye-opening, and they continue to release valuable resources like the one we’re showing you today.

(via Google Maps Mania)

Google publishes Crisis Response map for the Alberta Flooding

June 25, 2013

As they do after many major weather-related events around the world (such as Moore, Oklahoma last month), Google has just published a Crisis Response map for Alberta to help citizens deal with the incredible flooding.

You can view all of the data on the main Crisis Response map, or download specific KML files to view the data in Google Earth such as this road closure KML, seen here:

The map includes a wealth of information including the road closures seen above, river basin advisories, evacuation zones, shelters, traffic information, and much more. For anyone dealing directly with this situation, this data is invaluable.

The main crisis response page/map is being updated constantly, though you’re encouraged to check out the Recovery Information page from the Alberta Government for the latest official news from the province.

Moore, Oklahoma in Google Earth

May 22, 2013

As Google often does after horrible events like the tornadoes in Oklahoma this week, Google has created a Crisis Response Page to assist with the relief effort. The map includes a wealth of information including shelter locations, church and school closings, storm reports, a preliminary tornado track and much more.

In addition, the +Google for Media page has created 3D models of Plaza Towers Elementary School, Briarwood Elementary School and Moore Medical Center for use as needed. You can download the models here.

Another source of mapping information is the BBC, which has a detailed map of the tornado, along with a variety of before/after pictures.

While the residents of Oklahoma will certainly value your thoughts and prayers, financial assistance is often the best way you can help. We strongly encourage you to donate to the American Red Cross to support their efforts.

UPDATE: New info from NOAA’s Steve Ansari

A few years ago Steve shared some amazing visualizations of the Joplin tornado, and he’s back with similar images from Oklahoma. You can download the files/movies here, and see a sample below:

Responding to the Thailand Floods

October 18, 2011

As Google often does during disasters (such as the Gulf Oil Spill and the Japan Earthquake, Google has set up a Crisis Response page to help provide information for those trying to assist with the flooding in Thailand.

The flooding has become quite devastating and more widespread than most people realize. From Google’s page:

Thailand is currently facing its worst flooding in 50 years. Flood waters have swamped more than two-thirds of the country, submerging rice fields and shutting down hundreds of factories while over 900,000 families and businesses have been impacted and hundreds of lives have been tragically lost. National relief efforts are now focused on providing essential food, clean water and shelter to displaced people and restoring damaged infrastructure to the Kingdom of Smiles.

You can use the map on their page, or download various elements as KML files to be able to browse them in Google Earth. For example, here is the “Flood affected areas across Thailand” map (KML), which gives you a quick glance at the hardest hit areas.

For fresh satellite imagery of the area, you can use the imagery released by the NASA Earth Observatory a few days ago. You can view the image on their site, or see it in Google Earth with this KML image overlay.

(via Google Maps Mania)

Google offers a ton of info about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill

May 6, 2010

We’ve posted a few times (April 28, April 30) with imagery from the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Now Google has published an official “crisis response” page for the oil spill, highlighting a lot of different resources and information.

These resources include a variety of satellite images, boom placement, fishing closures and all of kinds of other information about the spill. In addition, they offer a variety of links to places where you can offer your time or resources to aid in the effort.
Check it all out on the Google crisis response – Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill site.