Google Person Finder: Google's First Aid in Boston Bombing

April 15, 2013 was a sad day for Boston as two bombs exploded at the annual Boston Marathon, thirteen seconds apart, at 2:49 p.m. EDT on Boylston Street, near the finish line, killing three people and injuring 183 others. As news broke, Google already knew what they can do to help - knowing where they are best at.

Search.

Google's Person Finder activated a search database for those registered, reported and known people in the vicinity of the tragedy. This .org site, which is already deactivated, was able to give users the ability to search the first and last name of a relative or a friend within the vicinity of the accident. As always, Google will give you the best match to your query (absolutely no AdWords here) and will tell you that person is alive, injured or deceased. Google said that the Person Finder was created to help people reconnect with friends and loved ones in the aftermath of natural and humanitarian disasters.

Google also announced that this is a temporary database and informed the public that this is a project together with Red Cross, for them to give direction on how to find or offer help. Searchers are also asked or go to Red Cross Safe & Well if they want to report or register missing persons.

It's just so cool.

http://google.org/personfinder/global/home.html