The Environment Agency is to begin sending flood alert information to Google for it to appear on its search engine and Public Alerts map.
It said this will increase the visibility of the alerts in England through personal devices.
The agency, which already provides a flood alert service through text, email and automated phone call, said it has been working with Google for two years to implement the service. It will involve the three levels of flood warnings: alerts when flooding is possible; warnings when it is expected and immediate action is needed; and severe when there is a danger to life.
John Curtin, executive director of flood and coastal risk management at the Environment Agency, said: “This pioneering service will ensure that our live flood warnings and safety advice reaches even more people when it is most needed, giving UK residents access to the first service of this kind in Europe.
“We are always looking to find innovative ways to give people advance warning of potential flood risk so they can take action to keep themselves and their property safe. We will continue to work closely with Google to explore ways in which we can further develop this fundamental public warning service.”
The service recently went live in Germany, which Google has worked with the German Met Office, and is in place in the USA, South America and parts of Asia.
Image from GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0
