Apr 2, 2013 at 5:06pm ET by Amy Gesenhues

Google Public Alerts has broadened its service through a new partnership with Nixle, a company that contracts with public safety agencies to send alerts via cellphones and social media networks. Police, fire, and emergency management agency alerts will now appear when a Google search or a Google Maps search is performed in an area with an active emergency alert in effect. "Google Public Alerts provides people with information about how to respond in emergency situations," said Jonathan Betz, engineering manager for Google Crisis Response. "Nixle enables local response agencies to get tha [...]

Hurricane Sandy Superstorm Resources

Oct 29, 2012 at 1:37pm ET by Gary Price

Trying to keep up with Hurricane Sandy? Below are a variety of resources which may help. Storm Tracking Google Super Storm Sandy Map Google Super Storm Sandy Maps: NYC Close-up ESRI's Hurricane Information Map Weather.com Hurricane Tracker Local TV Live Stream Boston: CBS NYC: NBC Philadelphia: CBS Washington DC: Fox Washington DC: NBC Radio A brief post with details about how to listen live to audio streams of first responders from throughout the affected region Listen to live audio streams from all-news stations in Boston, DC, Philadelphia, and New York C [...]

In Depth: Search Gear For The Titanic Centennial

Apr 13, 2012 at 3:36pm ET by Gary Price

[caption id="attachment_118292" align="alignright" width="294" caption="Credit: Library of Congress"][/caption] April 15th marks the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and there will be no shortage of news coverage (or hype) commemorating the event this weekend. The good news is that if you want even more information, facts, images and history, you can take a deep dive on the web to get to the bottom of the historic event. Here's a roundup of a few sources that we think you might find interesting and useful. Ancestry.com's The Titanic Collection Passenger Lists Crew Li [...]

Search Engines & 9/11: Remembrances Today; Some Thoughts Of Then

Sep 11, 2011 at 12:27pm ET by Danny Sullivan

The major search engines are all memorializing the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on their home pages today. Below, a recap, some some reflections on two major ways search engines have changed since that tragic day, in terms of news coverage and disaster help. Google Home Page There's no special logo on Google for the anniversary, which perhaps might have felt out of place. Rather, Google's gone with a simple, tasteful black ribbon of remembrance and the words "Remembering September 11," as you can see below: The link next to the ribbon leads to a post on the Google Blog that covers ways Google [...]

Google Releases Alabama Tornado Destruction Images & Maps Of Tornadoes

Apr 30, 2011 at 1:46pm ET by Danny Sullivan

Google has posted before-and-after images of the terrible devastation left behind by the tornadoes that hit the South and parts of the East Coast of the United States earlier this week, with close-up views particularly of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The easiest way to see the images is through a Picasa album that the company has posted. It explains more about these here. Below is a montage photo of before and after for both Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Jefferson County, Alabama: This stunning photo clearly shows the path of the tornado that went through Tuscaloosa, leaving a diagonal brown sc [...]

Iceland Volcano Maps: Where’s The Volcanic Ash? What Airports Are Closed? Plus, Refugees Tweeting!

Apr 19, 2010 at 12:25pm ET by Danny Sullivan

Ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland continues to ground flights across Europe. Indeed, I'm hosting a friend from Britain who can't get home due to the volcanic ash crisis. This is an event made for mapping. So what have we got out there? Below, satellite images, a great New York Times airport closure tracker, real-time flight displays and yes, tweets about the volcano, mapped. New York Times Airport Closures: Which airports are closed? Which are expected to reopen and when? An excellent map for volcanic ash refugees trying to know what's happening. Well done, New York [...]

8 Crazy-Cool Search Engines You Should Know

Apr 16, 2010 at 1:30pm ET by Matt McGee

Move over Google, Yahoo, and Bing; blended results or not, personalized search, Twitter results and OneBoxes ... you guys are just too predictable for this article. There's a new breed of search engines out there, and they're letting users search and find some utterly crazy stuff. And by "crazy," I mean a lot of things: unique, cool, awesome, and downright strange. Sometimes all of the above. A search engine that lets you find (and buy) discontinued soda pop? Check. A search engine that helps you find cheap Amazon.com items so you can get free shipping? Sure! A search engine to locate misspell [...]

Satellite Images Of Haiti Earthquake From Google & Bing Maps

Jan 22, 2010 at 11:08pm ET by Danny Sullivan

Both Google Maps and Bing Maps offer ways to see the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti. Below, a look at how to see before and after images, taken by satellite. Plus, several 360-degree ground level videos you can view. 360-Degree On-The-Ground Video Immersive Media has released a number of 360-degree view videos of someone actually walking in the disaster area. You can move the video around and get a true on-the-ground view. Here's one of them (sorry that it starts auto-playing -- I can't find a way to prevent this): Bing Maps Over at Bing Maps, the best thing is t [...]

California Wildfires: August & September 2009 Edition

Aug 18, 2009 at 3:17pm ET by Danny Sullivan

Yes, parts of California are burning again -- and the map makers are at work. Fires are often breaking out, so at the top of the story, maps to places currently in the news. Below that, general resources to check since this page was last updated. Update: September 1 Los Angeles area fires: Mount Wilson, La Canada Flintridge, Altadena, La Crescenta, Glendale, Pasadena, Acton, Agua Dulce from the Los Angeles Times covers the fire area in the Angeles National Forest, actions to protect the Mt. Wilson Observatory, evacuation areas and much more. Zoom out to also see where the Pendleton Fi [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Search Engines: Disasters

Maps Of Fires In Southern California: November 2008 Edition

Nov 15, 2008 at 4:08pm ET by Danny Sullivan

Fires are burning in Southern California once again. Here's an update on how to find maps of where the blazes are: NOTE: For the latest fires, see this fire maps section of Search Engine Land, where any updates are listed. Los Angeles Times: Watch the newspaper’s Google Maps account here for the latest maps. Most recent ones are Brea fire, Sylmar / Sayre fire map and Map of the fires in Santa Barbara County. See also this road closures list. Orange County Register: Watch this newspaper’s Google Maps account here. This map covers the Green River / Yorba Linda / Corona fire. Lo [...]

Los Angeles & Southern California Fire Maps: October 2008 Edition

Oct 13, 2008 at 8:27pm ET by Danny Sullivan

Southern California is ablaze with wildfires once again, including one I can see out my window in the Newport Beach foothills. Trying to keep track of where they are. Here's a guide to maps of current fires and place you can expect future ones to be posted. NOTE: For the latest fires, see this fire maps section of Search Engine Land, where any updates are listed. Los Angeles Times: Watch the newspaper's Google Maps account here for the latest maps. At the moment, Wildfire closes the 210 and 118 freeways, 8 schools is the most recent one, showing the "Marek Fire" burn area and evac [...]

June 2008 California Fire Maps

Jun 24, 2008 at 3:24pm ET by Danny Sullivan

Wildfires, again, in my home state of California. People are looking for maps of where they are at, so here are some resources: NOTE: For the latest fires, see this fire maps section of Search Engine Land, where any updates are listed. California Fires 2008 is an excellent map pinpointing fires across the state. Just excellent work. It's embedded over at KSBW so that you get a key for the color of each "thumbtack" marking a fire (blue is smaller; red is largest). See also the wildfires section that has a list of more detailed maps for particular fires. Significant California Fires [...]

Malibu Corral Fire Maps: Burn Area, Evacuation Centers, & More

Nov 25, 2007 at 7:44am ET by Danny Sullivan

Fires are burning again in Southern California, and the map makers are hard at work helping people know what's happening where. Below, maps relating to the Corral Fire in Malibu: NOTE: For the latest fires, see this fire maps section of Search Engine Land, where any updates are listed. Los Angeles Times: Shows evacuation zones, fire location, and more. Los Angeles Daily News: Highlights the entire evacuation area, locates fire, pinpoints destroyed homes, and more. Fox News: Road closures, reports of homes burned. ABC News: Evacuation areas. Blog.sudosu.net: Road closure [...]

Mapping The Southern California Fires

Oct 23, 2007 at 11:16am ET by Danny Sullivan

Looking for information about wildfires in Southern California and across the California in general? This page will guide you to what you're looking for. NOTE: Since this article was originally written, there have been many other fires on a seasonal basis. The original story is below. For the latest fires that may have brought you to this page, see this fire maps section of Search Engine Land, where any updates are listed. I'm back home (my original home) in Southern California for vacation, and to welcome me back, the Southland is on fire. Ah, just like old times. As I was keeping up wi [...]

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