Haiti Emergency SMS Deux

As I wrote a few days ago, an emergency SMS number was needed. While it is questionable how useful the Ushahidi 4636 Shortcode for Hait is with mobile batteries in the rubble close to death (though hopefully not their owners), it still allows some coordination of volunteer efforts which is quite important.

While it isn't the Alert Retrieval Cache concept, it... sort of is. And it is good to see the idea being implemented, though honestly...

I would like to see governments and mobile carriers implement and advertise such short codes before disasters. The cost is low, it's feasible and there's really no excuse for this not to be done in every country throughout the world. There are plenty of uses.

But... as I have said before... people don't smell the smoke until the flames are licking their posteriors. Oh well.