Google Earth general manager John Hanke announces on the official Google blog that the Google Earth team was recognized last week by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for their work last year to bring timely satellite images of the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina to the public (and to rescuers).

That was the first demonstration of the good that can come from democratized access to up-to-date geospatial data which a year earlier would have cost individuals a fortune. Soon after, in the aftermath of the Pakistan quake, Google Earth would be able to demonstrate this again.