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“ You know how in disaster movies, people on the street gather around electronic shops that have TVs in the display windows so they can stay informed with what is going on? In this digital age, that’s what the Tokyo Apple stores became. Staff brought out surge protectors and extension cords with 10s of iOS device adapters so people could charge their phones & pads and contact their loved ones. Even after we finally had to close 10pm, crowds of people huddled in front of our stores to use the wifi into the night, as it was still the only way to get access to the outside world. ”

Via Kevin Rose’s blogg: an email sent from an Apple Employee in Japan. It’s great to see companies are not only going out of their way to help people affected by the disaster in Japan, but that the unique experience that Apple has cultivated around their retail stores is able to make a big difference for so many people who need it most. It’s also incredible to hear the ways that Apple is helping their employees in disaster stricken areas. 

Other companies are helping out how they can too: AT&T, Verizon and Sprint are offering free calls and texts to Japan, Google has set up an online crisis center, and iTunes as well as most phone carriers are encouraging donations to the Red Cross via their existing services at no charge.