Twitter Provided Early Quake Reports

July 30, 2008 12:05 p.m. EST

Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - When the 5.4 earthquake hit near Los Angeles Tuesday, many residents turned to Twitter before the telephone. Just minutes after the ground shook in Southern California users of the Internet service were alerting fellow users of the event.

Twitter also Internet users to send brief messages that range from the mundane to literally earth-shattering. Earlier this year, Twitter was used to alert people of earthquakes that hit China.

On a company blog, Twitter said its users were able to send news of the earthquake even before traditional news media, such as the Associated Press, had filed stories.

In one instance Tuesday, a woman finishing a medical exam used her cell phone to tap out a message on Twitter about her experiences during the LA quake, CNET reported.

Wireless phone providers suggest text messages can often avoid delays caused by a crush of traffic from thousands of cell phone users attempting to make calls during emergencies.