MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 6, 2012) – A crisis map through Google Maps and Person Finder is now available to help Filipinos in disaster-prone areas during typhoon Pablo (international code name Bopha), according to Google.
It said subscribers of Globe Telecommunication can also access the information using their mobile browsers through Free Zone powered by Google.
The map, also available in Filipino – http://google.org/crisismap/2012-pablo-fil – shows the typhoon strength or signal in different parts of the country.
The map also shows the location of the eye of the typhoon, the estimated storm path, shelter locations, emergency hotlines and other information that Filipinos can use in helping residents in disaster-prone areas, it said.
Google said the Person Finder is also available in text version for mobile http://www.google.org/personfinder/2012-pablo?lang=fil&ui=jp-mobile. It can help Filipinos provide and retrieve information on a missing person.
“Pinoys need information to stay safe, and the government and first responders are working on helping Filipinos in disaster-prone and disaster-stricken areas stay informed. Google is working with these individuals in creating the crisis response map and Person Finder page to reach more Filipinos in need. We’ve found Person Finder useful in past disasters where there has been a large number of people displaced and affected, and hope that it proves useful for those affected by Typhoon Pablo,” Aileen Apolo, Head of Outreach, Southeast Asia at Google, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
She said: “You can easily share and embed these maps on your website — just hit the “Share” button at the top of the map to get the HTML code. We’ll continue to update the maps as more information becomes available.”
“To embed person finder in your site: http://www.google.org/personfinder/2012-pablo/embed and for data on typhoons and other crises, users can go to this URL – http://www.google.org/crisisresponse.”
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