Google search data revealed that people tend to turn to internet and online tools for information and communication during crises. The last week Hurricane Irene only proved the importance of National Preparedness Month, a campaign initiated by the FEMA Ready to teach Americans how to prepare for emergencies. On this account, the major technology developer yesterday introduced a new Google Crisis Preparedness website with information and educational tools on using technology to prepare for crises.

The new site accumulates the past experience of other people that have overcome crises. For instance, there is a story about two girls who located their grandfather after the Japan earthquake and tsunami in March and how Americorps tracked volunteers during the tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri in May of this year, explains Google’s official blog. There is also a section with information on using Google tools in crises, such as Google Docs, Spreadsheets and Sites, visualizing the disaster-related information with Google My Maps and Google Earth, and more.

Another initiative supported by Google Crisis Response and other organizations including FEMA, the American Red Cross, and the Ad Council is Get Tech Ready. On the web site users can find tips on using technology to prepare for, adapt to and recover from disasters. Learning how to send updates via text and internet from a mobile phone in case voice communications are not available would be very useful in emergency. As well as getting to know how to store important documents in the cloud so they can be accessed from anywhere.

Another useful feature offered by Google is using this Ready.gov Emergency Plan Google Docs Template, which allows to create an emergency information document. It can be downloaded  and accessed from anywhere.

According to the American Red Cross survey, people find Internet and cloud-based tools and information useful when a disaster comes. Especially, people who provide services after disasters use web to understand the situation, collaborate with each other and communicate with the public.

Currently, Google and OpenDNS are trying to speed up the internet, which may also be necessary when it comes up to crises.