Looking Out for the Uber Community During an Emergency
Written byOver the past decade, Uber has connected a global community of people who use our technology for transportation, food delivery, business and work. We’ve learned a lot along the way and seen firsthand how important it is to be prepared in times of crisis, whether it’s extreme weather like a hurricane or a flood, or a major act of violence.
We’re committed to your safety. That’s why we are centralizing and detailing our global emergency approach and protocol. In the event of a major emergency, we want our response to be consistent and reliable, so you can stay focused on what’s important: the safety of you and your loved ones.
Here’s an overview of how we work to support everyone in the Uber community during a major emergency:
Uber’s Global Security Center (GSC)
Uber has a Global Security Center that monitors and flags issues that may affect our business and the communities in which we operate—24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The GSC is made up of individuals with expertise in security, emergency policy and disaster management who speak a dozen different languages and have lived and worked all around the world.
They use state-of-the-art tools and advanced technology to detect emergencies that may put our customers and employees in danger.
Cap trip pricing
When the GSC determines a major emergency event may have occurred, it assesses the situation and will 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 they apply.
Centralizing our response globally will ultimately make that response more efficient, timely and consistent— elements that become even more vital during a crisis.
Partnering with government agencies
Working with emergency management agencies and local government stakeholders, we communicate to our users through the Uber apps to let them know about dangerous conditions and during times when the situation calls for a suspension of service.
Whether it’s a hurricane in Florida or flooding in India, in the aftermath of a crisis or disaster, we aim to use the scope of our business, and our technology to help our communities recover and get back on track.
Disaster assistance for local communities
As we centralize our disaster relief efforts in the communities we serve, we’ve established an assistance fund with resources set aside for free rides to shelters, meals for first responders, transportation for volunteers, logistics facilitation, and support to local non-profit organizations.
Of course, all emergencies are unique and we’ll continue to work with local governments and organizations on the ground to support disaster recovery efforts.
But we also know that centralizing our response globally will ultimately make that response more efficient, timely and consistent— elements that become even more vital during a crisis.
So whether you’re using Uber to catch a movie, jump on a bike, 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.