Uber connects a global community of people who use our technology to go anywhere and get anything. We’ve learned a lot along the way and have seen firsthand how important it is to be prepared. Rest assured, whether it’s extreme weather, a natural disaster or a major act of violence, we are committed to your safety.

That’s why we have dedicated teams who work around the clock to protect our community of users, and are constantly monitoring for events that could impact our services. When one is detected, our teams spring into action to take proactive measures. The goal is to always provide a consistent and reliable response, no matter the time of day, with safety as our top priority.

Here’s an overview of how we work to support everyone in the Uber community during a major emergency:

Uber’s Regional Security Centers

Uber operates four regional security centers across the globe that work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to keep users safe. These teams specialize in risk identification, emergency management, and public safety and security. With regional expertise, multilingual capabilities, and global experience, they are well-equipped to respond to diverse challenges.

We use state-of-the-art tools and advanced technology to help us anticipate emergencies that may put our users and employees at risk. In the event of a major emergency, we want our response to be consistent and reliable, so users can focus on what matters most: their safety and that of their loved ones.

Protecting the platform

When one of our regional security centers determines a major emergency may have occurred, it assesses the situation and may immediately cap trip pricing in the area. We will review situations where unintended charges might have occurred during an emergency and work to refund them. Customers can always report issues through the app. We also follow local laws and regulations related to States of Emergency where applicable. 

Partnering with government agencies

We partner with emergency management agencies and local governments as necessary to prepare for situations that may impact our communities. In high risk scenarios, we may also temporarily suspend our services to prioritize your safety. Through the Uber app, we keep users informed about dangerous conditions and service interruptions, always striving to restore access as soon as it is safe to do so. And in the aftermath of a crisis, we aim to use our resources and technology to support community recovery and help people move forward.

Disaster assistance for local communities

Uber supports disaster relief efforts in the communities we serve. We partner with local governments and nonprofits to provide free rides to shelters, meals for first responders, transportation for volunteers, logistics facilitation, and support to local organizations.

Of course, all emergencies are unique and we’ll continue to work with local governments and on-the-ground organizations to contribute to disaster recovery efforts.

So whether you’re using Uber to get to a doctor’s appointment, catch a movie, or deliver a late-night snack, you can have peace of mind that when an emergency hits, we are looking out for you and your community.