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It’s been many years since an earthquake of devastating proportions hit the Bay Area, but that doesn’t stop people thinking about what to do if (when?) another one strikes. Public radio station KALW is using Mobile Commons technology to find out more about how prepared its listeners are. They’re asking listeners to text in what’s in their earthquake kit and then showing the results on a map. You can also hear samples of the responses on the air.
The station launched the project to commemorate the anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. That quake rocked the Bay Area in 1989, killing 63 people and leaving thousands homeless. The question for listeners is, “What’s in your earthquake kit?” and anyone can answer by texting KIT to the number, 30644 from a cell phone. For those who don’t have a kit, there’s a question about what kind of plan you have (if any) and whether you know your neighbors well enough to team up in a disaster. So far, more than a hundred people have sent in submissions. More than 40% of those who texted in so far say they do not have a kit. Tune into the station on Thursday to hear more about what that means.
Listen to KALW’s “Your Call” show to hear more about the submissions (iTunes link).
UPDATE: The San Francisco Chronicle’s blog features the map.
Click the map markers to read what they have to say (green means the person has a kit, red means they don’t).