Chile Earthquake, Google Person Finder, and Twitter

In response to the devastating 8.8 earthquake that hit Chile on Saturday, Google has activated a new app to help friends and relatives find each other. 

The format is simple, with the options:  ‘I’m looking for someone’ or ‘I have information about someone’ which is available in both Spanish and English.  The service has already been used to track thousands of records following the quake in Chile.   Google also activated a ‘people finder’ app following the Haiti earthquake, which contains thousands of records. 

We really have come a long way with all the new technology available to us these days.  There are so many terrific advantages with access to the Internet and search engines, and social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. 

On Saturday, following the quake in Chile, a missing relative in Santiago was located with the help of another user on Twitter.  She used the Twitter search function and hashtags (#chile, #earthquake, etc.) and her tweet was retweeted and seen by someone who was able to help.  When catastrophes strike and telephone landlines are down, social networking is proving to have a very valuable place in our lives, allowing us to be pro-active in seeking and providing help – and freeing up emergency services to get on with their important work.

GPS tracking technology on mobile phones has also helped to locate hikers, climbers and skiers lost or injured in the mountains.  There was an instance when a snowboarder was lost in the Alps and subsequently rescued and saved because a tweet he sent resulted in his position being located via GPS, his iPhone and Google Maps. 

Obviously, carrying a mobile phone or smart phone with you when travelling is a very good idea, and could even save your life.  However, even with all the new technology available out there, it is still important to take out travel insurance to help pick up the pieces if your plans go awry.

Flickr cc Image:  mckaysavage