CivicActions

NPR's Morning Edition just had an interesting piece about KPBS, the local San Diego NPR affiliate, and how they are using technology to help the local community during the devastating wildfires of the past week. I'll try to post the link to the piece on NPR's website once it's up later this morning, but for now, here's some of the highlights:

* They used Google Maps to provide updated block-by-block information about fires, shelters, and evacuation routes. Once Google saw the popularity and importance of this map info, they offered to help maintain the map. See the map here.

* They set up a Twitter account to text message people with the latest updates. See the Twitter feed here.

* They were knocked off the air Tuesday AM due to the fires, but were back up in 3 hours on another local radio station who decided it was more important to have local coverage of the fires rather than the latest in "alternative rock". They're now back broadcasting on their own signal.