Google Maps and Search will show crisis information via SOS Alerts

Why it matters to you

If you’re unlucky enough to get caught in a natural or man-made disaster, Google’s SOS Alerts can help get you the information you need.

Whether it’s in the aftermath of a natural disaster or a terrorist attack, most of us want actionable, up-to-the-minute information about the situation on the ground. That’s the idea behind SOS Alerts, a new feature in Google Maps and Google Search that prominently highlights top stories, websites, and other useful information.

In Google’s Search app for iOS and Android, SOS Alerts will appear at the top of search results for the incident or location. Swiping up on the tab will show such information as emergency phone numbers, websites, and translations of useful phrases, plus related maps and top stories. You’ll see official alerts and tweets from first responders, too, and in some cases a timeline-like overview of the situation and donation opportunities.

SOS Alerts aren’t just limited to Google Search. They’ll appear in Google Maps, too, where you’ll see real-time updates on road closures, traffic slowdowns, and transit problems. A tappable icon on the map with more information will appear near the location of the crisis, along with a card containing such information as helpful phone numbers and websites.

In some cases, Google will be a little more proactive. If you’re in or close to the affected area, you’ll get a notification on your smartphone that will direct you to the aforementioned news, maps, and resources.

Google isn’t rolling out SOS Alerts as a half-baked feature. The company says it has worked closely with organizations and government agencies “on the front lines of relief efforts,” including the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in the U.S., and in other countries such agencies as the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, to supply SOS Alerts with real-time information.

Initially, SOS Alerts will be available in 12 locations, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, India, and Brazil. Google says a lack of local partners hindered the feature’s launch in the U.K. and other parts of Europe, but that it’s working to recruit more agencies and nonprofit organizations in the coming months.

SOS Alerts may be Google’s latest crisis-monitoring efforts, but it’s not the only one.

Google used its Person Finder tool to help people check the status of loved ones in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquakes and tsunami in Japan. And it has deployed Crises Maps — toggleable Google Maps layers that highlight dangerous areas and emergency services — during Hurricane Sandy and other natural disasters.

Facebook, which offers a parallel service that lets members tell friends they’re safe, has been criticized for activating it under “inappropriate” circumstances. But Google says it has set up a dedicated team to decide which events warrant an SOS Alert.

“We hope you never need to use crisis response features, but if you do, they’re designed to help keep you, and those you love, safe and informed,” Yossi Matias, vice president of engineering at Google, wrote in a blog post.