• The Next Web, Wednesday, January 25, 2012 11:41 AM

In other Google news, the Web giant just debuted a new public alerts service, which will now be baked into Google Maps. Dubbed Google Public Alerts, the service will provide users with up-to-date information on emergency messages, such as hurricane and storm warnings. “Google will be providing weather, public safety and earthquake alerts, throughout the United States,” The Next Web reports.

For the information, Google will rely on the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service, and the US Geological Survey. As TNW notes, Google Public Alerts users can search for key terms and locations to find out more about what is happening in their area. “Google gives the current example of searching for flood warnings in Indiana, and users will receive a list of warnings throughout the state.” Clicking on any given warning will provide users will comprehensive information on the location of the threat, its severity and what action they should take to stay safe.

“If you want to keep up-to-date with all of the public alerts, regardless of whether or not they’re in your area, Google’s new service provides a centralized and easy-to-access site with the latest on all of the current alerts in the US,” TNW notes. In the process of being rolled out, the service is not yet available nationally.   

Read the whole story at The Next Web »