Social media has already proven itself to be a hugely useful tool for seismologists tracking and predicting earthquakes, and now the internet is about to get even more useful in that regard. On Thursday, Google announced a new partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey to add detailed earthquake information to its search results, so if you’re ever wondering if those tremors are actually the earth shifting (and not just the subway rolling by), the search engine giant will let you know. This, Google says, will allow people to “get timely information to help them stay safe.”
If an earthquake does indeed strike in your vicinity, you can search for “earthquake,” “earthquakes near me,” or something similar and you’ll be greeted with an “at-a-glance summary about the quake, right at the top of the search page.” You’ll be instantly made aware of the size of the quake, the areas affected, and be given tips on how to safely navigate the affected regions in the aftermath of the tremors. Moreover, the accompanying shakemap “will show areas that shook with various intensities, so you’ll be able to quickly assess the reach of the earthquake, as well as its epicenter,” Google says.