Earthquake and Technology
A little less than an hour ago at 11:42:15 AM (PDT), we had a 5.8 5.4 magnitude earthquake in Socal. Everything seems ok.
Most impressive was how people used (and are still using) Twitter and Facebook to communicate about the event. Both sites lit up like candles on my birthday as it was still happening. While the phone lines jammed up and calls couldn’t be made, these sites kept working (which is ironic since Twitter has been spotty lately).
I was in the process of writing a tweet, and the room started shaking so I changed my message to “EARTHQUAKE!” while the shaking was still going on — an instant news feed to those not in LA everyone following my feed. Forgot what I was originally writing.
My phone was also going off with SMS messages from other folks on Twitter. It took the AP 9 minutes to get the story out. While this may not mean much for a moderate earthquakes, think about what this could mean for a bigger natural disaster. Instant communication to dish out life-saving information or to request help.
Anyway, I took a screen grab of Twitter documenting the action (pics below) and here are some good quotes from others’ experiences:
The earthquake registered ~ 120 TPM (tweets per minute) on summize.com. Now we have to listen to 8 hrs of news about what people were doing. — Matt Singley
Glad there are no earthquakes in Georgia. — Joanna Duff
Hanging onto the escrow rollercoaster. — Jon Ericson
Just experienced earthquake number six during a haircut with Candace B. Quakes are fun until they hit 7.0. — Benton Walker
Did not survive the earthquake, send flowers to my family and checks to me. — Davis Derus
Getting to evacuate work because of an earthquake is kind of like recess without playing 4 square. — Jordan Beal
I LOVE EARTHQUAKES!!! We were rockin’ & rollin’ in our highrise. I know it seems weird, but it’s like being home
— Ruthie Fowler
If it weren’t for facebook statuses, people might never find out about earthquakes. — Ashley Taylor
Dang earthquake coverage is breaking into my soaps!!!! Ch.11 darn you!! — Ashlyn Bishop
Felt the earthquake from Paris. — Eddie Looper
Disneyland is still standing…so we are all good. — Jeff Savage
UPDATE: More Quotes
Thinks that not even an earthquake can keep me from the James Taylor concert tonight… — Jackie H.
…is thinking wow… that was an earthquake? I thought it was a helicopter going over too close to our house! haha — Bree W.
…”loves” being in charge of 20 8th graders during an earthquake. — Meghan S.
…is in awe of God’s power after experiencing her first earthquake! — Marissa B.
