Google to offer Flood Alerts in India via Maps and Google Now

Google on Tuesday announced that it will offer flood alerts in India through Google Public Alerts. Search engine giant Google has in the past activated its emergency search pages when floods hit Chennai, Kashmir and in times of the other natural disasters in India.

“Users in India can now find ‘flood alerts’ along with ‘river level’ information for more than 170 areas in which the Central Water Commission (CWC) has active observation stations,” Google said in a statement on Tuesday.
These alerts are available on web search, Google Now Cards on the Google app, maps as well as Google Public Alerts homepage, it added.

These alerts are available on web search, Google Now Cards on the Google app, maps as well as Google Public Alerts homepage, it added.

These alerts can be accessed on the computer and mobile devices. On clicking the alert, users will be offered information with details about the hazard, which will include a map and expected timeline, as well as tips on how to stay safe. The alerts will be created and shared using data provided by the Central Water Commission (CWC).

“Timely information is the first step in disaster preparedness and has the potential to save thousands of lives lost to natural disasters each year. By making critical information more widely available to people, ‘Flood Alerts’ will enable citizens across the country to make quicker and more informed decisions,” said Payal Patel, Product Manager in a press release.

By making critical information more widely available to people, flood alerts will enable citizens across the country to make quicker and more informed decisions, she added.
In 2015, Google introduced ‘cyclone alerts’, which offers information with details about the hazard, including a map and expected timeline, as well as tips on how to stay safe.

“Floods are one of the most common natural disasters in India. Chronic floods during the monsoon season on an average affect more than 30 million Indians annually. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), on an average 7.21 million hectares (roughly 72,000 sq km) go under floodwater annually. This water typically ravages 3.78 million hectares of agricultural land, damaging crops worth Rs.1,118 crore annually. Heavy rains and floods also account for nearly 1,700 lives lost annually. Apart from this, 1.25 lakh houses are annually damaged by torrential rains that also wipe out nearly 96,000 livestock. Ironically, 60% of India’s farmland, 66% of its livestock and its entire forest area depend on rains for survival,” said Google to emphasize the importance of their new feature.