Google Will Show You Tweets During A Natural Disaster

Google Adds Live Tweets To Disaster Alert Feature

Despite being at loggerheads most of the time, Google and Twitter have agreed to hold hands when it comes to Google's Crisis Response service on Google+.

Whenever there's a serious natural disaster taking place Twitter will now send live updates of Google's Public Alerts system, creating a more contextual picture of what's happening.

The idea is that those in affected areas will have a more local view of what steps are being taken, whether it's schools closing, shelters being opened or roads and services being closed.

When a public alert is sent out Google will now include tweets within its Google Now, Search and Maps content.

In the example of a forest fire Google's alert will include a custom map showing the affected area as well as live tweets that show how it's affecting local services.

At the moment the service is only being rolled out in English-speaking countries but according to Engadget there's talk of expanding the service drastically.

Turns out that when the need is big enough, Google and Twitter can put aside their differences and we're all the better for it.

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