Google Plotted Hurricane Irene Online Map

WASHINGTON-Internet giant Google has launched a road map online tracking of Hurricane Irene and provide other useful information about the storm on the way to the U.S. East Coast.

The map, which is in crisislanding.appspot.com is a product of Google team response to the crisis, which provides online tools to help with relief efforts after natural disasters.

The map shows three to five day forecasts of Hurricane Irene, showing evacuation routes and coastal areas of the eastern United States is in danger of facing a flood.

In addition to maps, online tools developed by Google include the "People Finder," which tries to locate and return the victims of earthquakes or other disasters.

Millions of Americans are preparing to Irene, a category two hurricane packing 105 miles (165 kilometers) per hour, is expected to hit North Carolina on Saturday before heading north to New York.

Hurricanes are rare on the U.S. east coast, home to more than 65 million people live in a densely populated string of cities from Washington to New York to Boston.