Today the Google Crisis Response team launched tsunami alerts for Public Alerts. Public Alerts are designed to bring you emergency alerts when and where they’re relevant to you. We’re starting with tsunami alert data from the U.S. and Canada and rolling out with additional areas in the coming months.
For this launch, we’re grateful for the collaboration of US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We’ve integrated their West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WCATWC) data and are in the process of integrating Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) data as well. We’re only able to provide Public Alerts due to our strong network of partners, and their commitment to open data standards, in particular the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
With today’s launch of tsunami data in Public Alerts, relevant tsunami alerts will be accessible to you on the Google Public Alerts page and on Google Maps (see Public Alerts FAQ for details).
Here’s what the alert details page would have looked like for a tsunami warning issued earlier this year.
The new alert details page for tsunamis will typically include the following information:
- A map of the affected area, and any locations affected.
- The date and time that the alert was issued.
- The estimated arrival times and the estimated height of the waves.
- Any action that authoritative sources recommend you take.
We’re always working to improve Public Alerts, so please send us your feedback using the link at the far right of our Google Public Alerts homepage.
Posted by Ezra Resnick, Public Alerts Engineer Permalink | Links to this post |