Google comes in handy for victims

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5596981.html

SAN FRANCISCO -- On Friday afternoon, Leonard Sprague, a general contractor in Gainesville, Fla., saw the electronic plea.

"I hope someone can help," someone using the name ZuluOne wrote to an online bulletin board. "I am trying to get a current overlay for the area around 2203 Curcor Court in Gulfport, Miss."

Sprague knew that "current overlay" meant a bird's-eye view. And an altruistic impulse combined with an urge to play with a new technology propelled him into action. Using his PC, he superimposed a freshly available posthurricane aerial photograph over a prehurricane image of the same neighborhood. After 15 minutes, he had an answer.

"Actually, it looks like your house looks pretty good," Sprague told ZuluOne by e-mail. "Unfortunately, it doesn't look so good for some of your neighbors. Best of luck to you and your family."


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