Google Android phones to assist with earthquake alerts and searches

You may not need to scramble to check Twitter for details when the earth starts to shake.

Google is adding earthquake warning tools to users of the Android smartphone mobile operating system, including the Samsung Galaxy series.

Google says it will start working with the U.S. Geological Survey to send earthquake alerts to Android devices, starting in California. Android will send alerts to phones in California from the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system.

"With the growing cost of natural disasters worldwide, we saw an opportunity to use Android to provide people with timely, helpful earthquake information when they search, as well as a few seconds warning to get themselves and their loved ones to safety if needed," Google said in a blog post.

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