Google Helps World Prepare for Natural Disasters

Google marked International ShakeOut Day by highlighting its Android Earthquake Alerts System, which uses smartphones as a global network to provide earthquake warnings before shaking arrives. The company said the service is expanding to additional countries and regions as part of its broader crisis resilience efforts. Beyond earthquakes, Google is using artificial intelligence and satellite technology to help people prepare for other natural disasters. Its flood forecasting technology can provide up to seven days’ warning for riverine floods affecting more than two billion people in 150 countries, along with up to 24 hours’ notice for urban flash floods. The company’s WeatherNext model can predict cyclones up to 15 days in advance. Google also said near-real-time wildfire boundary maps are live in 34 countries, while its FireSat satellite constellation is designed to detect and track fires as small as a classroom within 20 minutes once fully operational. The company reported that in 2025 it helped connect people with crisis information more than 10 million times per day on average. Google framed its goal around preventing surprise during natural disasters and pointed to a new Crisis Resilience white paper detailing its work with partners and communities worldwide.