Map layers explained
What each map layer shows, what the colors and symbols mean, and which layers to use for which question.
What this does
Layers are the map’s channels. Each one draws a different kind of information, and you can combine them.
When to use it
Use this guide when you see a symbol you do not recognize, or you want the right layer for a question.
What you need
Nothing — the practice map in Using the map lets you try every layer safely.
Source and freshness notes appear inside each guide where they matter.
The layers
| Layer | What it shows | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Resources | Services from the directory as pins, with sub-layers like Shelter to narrow the type. | You want services near a place. |
| Shelter | Shelters with their reported status. | Someone needs a place tonight and location matters. |
| Transit | Bus routes, stops, and live bus positions. | You are planning or waiting for a bus. See Live buses. |
| Trip | Your current route from start to destination. | You are building or following a trip. |
| Rentals | Housing rental leads placed on the map. | You are housing-hunting by neighborhood. |
| Events | Local events with a time and place. | You want what is happening nearby. |
| Response | Public-safety activity and incident context. | You want to know what is going on in an area. |
| Fire | Wildfire and smoke information in season, and tsunami evacuation zones on the coast. | Wildfire season, or coastal trip planning. |
Colors and symbols
- Blue and teal pins — ordinary places: services, stops, cameras.
- Numbered circles — clusters of several nearby places. The number is the count. Zoom or tap to split.
- Red and orange markers — attention items: fires, incidents, serious alerts. Open them before treating them as urgent — color marks the category, not your risk.
- Shaded areas — zones, like tsunami evacuation areas or alert boundaries. The pin card names the zone.
- Moving dots on Transit — live buses. See Live buses.
Common questions
Why does the map look empty?
Probably every layer is off, or you are zoomed into an area with nothing in the active layer. Turn on Resources and zoom out.
Can I turn on several layers at once?
Yes. Shelter plus Transit is a common combination — shelters and the buses that reach them. Too many layers at once gets noisy; turn off what you are not using.
Related guides
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