Google launches Person Finder, map for Typhoon Haiyan

Site set up to help find loved ones in aftermath of devastation

Google launched a person finder and relief map to help connect people in the wake of the devastating typhoon that whipped through the Philippines.

Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, ravaged much of the Philippines on Friday, leaving possibly 10,000 people dead and countless others in need of shelter, medical attention and safe drinking water.

Thousands of people are still missing and survivors are left to scavenge for food after the storm, which clocked winds of 195 mph.

On Monday, Google stepped up to help, posting several tools, including a map of the affected areas, and the lastest information on the disaster, along with ways to donate to the American Red Cross, UNICEF and the World Food Program.

The map, which can be embedded into other sites, offers information on evacuation centers, hospitals, police stations and areas of calamity.

Under a Missing Persons heading, there's a tab to click to look for someone and another tab for those who have information about someone in the critical area.

Those looking for a loved one can submit that person's name and have Google search a database of names that have been posted. People who want to post information are able to list their given name and their family name.

As of 3:45 p.m. ET Monday, the database was tracking 41,500 records.

The Person Finder also can be used on mobile devices.

This article, Google launches Person Finder, map for Typhoon Haiyan, was originally published at Computerworld.com.

Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.0, emerging technologies, and desktop and laptop chips for Computerworld. Follow Sharon on Twitter at @sgaudin, on Google+ or subscribe to Sharon's RSS feed. Her email address is sgaudin@computerworld.com.

See more by Sharon Gaudin on Computerworld.com.

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