Google creates tools for hurricane relief

Google has created search tools designed to locate information and people, following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Keywords typed in Katrina Search will return results only from hurricane-related Web pages, while Katrina People Search can help find information about persons affected by the disaster, the company said. Katrina People Search indexes information collated from several public databases, including the Red Cross.

Other tech companies, including search engines, have offered tools to help victims of the storm. Lycos announced a hurricane search tool last week. People can search for missing friends and relatives by name or get referred to other sites that are providing information and relief services, Lycos said.

Yahoo has also set up a similar people-finding tool.

The sites also link to Katrinasafe, a Web site designed to link people with their families. That site was set up with assistance from several technology companies, including Microsoft and Dell.