Google has created a crisis map to relay information about the movement of a hurricane currently sweeping up the United States’ Atlantic coast to prepare civilians once the storm hits land. Hurricane Sandy, which has already killed 66 people in the Carribbean, has been the topping the Twitter charts lately in the areas directly affected by it.
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The most important information is provided by separate layers, relaying information like the storm’s current position, surge probabilities, evacuation routes and shelters and a three-day forecast. The city of New York was also included the stormfront area, prompting Google to cancel its Android event scheduled for today.
Social media is playing its part as well, with news, tips and reinsurances from all over the USA for the affected area. On Facebook a community page has been set up with the most relevant and newest information on Sandy. Accuweather.com has created a Google+ Hangout to have citizens questions relating to the hurricane answered by meteorologists in real-time.
Smartphone users are able to download an app created by The Red Cross, that shows the latest information, a check list for evacuees and even a quiz to keep you busy while lying low for hours during the storm. “It has tools that you can use too. If you lose your power; can’t find your flashlight. It has a flashlight feature. It has strobe and an alarm feature,” Sam Kille of the Red Cross said.
