Google Maps is running point on Florida’s evacuation attempts before Hurricane Rita makes landfall. It’s marking roads closed in the aftermath in real time.<\/b>
\nGoogle Maps is running point in Florida\u2019s attempt to evacuate before Hurricane Irma makes landfall. As the Category 5 storm prepares to huff and puff and blow the Caribbean\u2019s collective house down, stalwart citizens will need all the help they can get. Google Maps
In a press briefing broadcast on Twitter, Florida Governor Rick Scott mentioned the state\u2019s disaster prep teams were working with Google Emergency Response to mark real-time road closures in Maps.
Florida Gov. Scott says state is coordinating with Google’s emergency response team to mark closed roads in real-time on Google Maps pic.twitter.com\/T4NwVnyOv8 pic.twitter.com\/T4NwVnyOv8
\u2014 CBS News (@CBSNews) September 7,2017 September 7,2017
This might help keep GPSes from accidentally sending those trying to get to shelter into danger zones from which they might not be able to escape. \u201cYou will know if a road is closed, \u201d Governor Scott said. He spoke specifically of the aftermath of the storm, as presumably even emergency responders won\u2019 t be able to keep track of blocked roads during the hurricane.
In the same broadcast, he urged people not to attempt to flee the state en masse, but rather to find shelter in their immediate area. Traffic, he said, is already bottlenecking on the major highways.
Google said in a statement:
To provide access to accurate and useful transportation information, we use algorithmic and manual methods to account for everyday and emergency road closures. We\u2019 re working directly with Florida officials to help provide up-to-date information to those affected by the storm. These road closures will also appear on our Irma Crisis Map, embedded as part of our SOS Alert on Search. Google Maps Tech
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