The story of LINE is famously linked to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami which struck on March 11, 2011. In the aftermath of that tragic event, people struggled to find reliable ways of contacting their loved ones using existing communications services. Three months later, the LINE Messaging app was launched, with the aim of becoming a dependable communication tool people could use for their everyday lives. 

For this 10th anniversary a set of updates were launched in Japan designed to help protect people in the event of another earthquake like the one in 2011. In an emergency situation even small things can make a big difference. Keep reading to learn about eight ways LINE can help you when a natural disaster like an earthquake strikes.

Life would be less stressful if we knew exactly when disaster might strike. While current science and technology only enables us to “guesstimate” earthquakes, being prepared is always prudent. And LINE’s Note feature can help, letting you store valuable information like emergency contacts, a to-do list, and evacuation sites in a place you can access fast and easily. 

The days and weeks after a disaster are notorious for creating confusion and misinformation, making access to up-to-date, legitimate information so vital. To ensure their information is accurate and correct, users in Japan can add the LINE Smart Notification Official Account to receive live updates after an earthquake (available only in Japanese). 

LINE’s OpenChat is a way for people to come together, share information and get to know each other any time, even when there is nothing serious happening. However, in the event of a disaster, the feature can gain extra functionality, as the communities you are part of can become important sources of information and staying in touch. Join or create your own OpenChat in advance to share and receive relevant information with your community.

After an earthquake: