Media and Natural Disasters

Media and Natural Disasters

   During the last couple of years media has been a daily component of our lives. We can buy, sell and educate ourselves thanks to the media. I find it fascinating how individuals post and tweet about one specific thing and it can be a really important source of information. Also it goes viral and many people can get a hold of such information.

 Six out of ten people relied on online news for updates during these events. And one-third of the U.S. population said would use social media to let their loved ones know they were safe. (Read Cross)

 

 

Media has played a vital role in reporting events from elections and more important about disasters. For example the hurricane Sandy was transformed from images to newspaper, then to the Internet that made the carry process further for more people to be informed in any occasion about the most important things about the mother nature. For example, Last December  in New York, The mayor Cory Booker, who is a Twitter user help many people by responding to tweet requests from individuals to dig their cars and buses out of snowbanks. I believe Social media has made a difference by providing easy accessibility during natural catastrophes. 

Haiti suffered from a terrific earthquake and media was a way to make people aware and social media was the based to incorporate more  volunteers to help  this disaster. Ushahidi has also been a really important method that rescue programs have used in the past. this consist of a series of maps that show where there are shelters, food stores as well as cell phone charging centers.

The Red Cross keeps the population informed by twitter. they have information on how to act before, during and after a disaster. Organizations like the Red Cross are seeing the social media as an important medium to communicate and as well as to seek help during natural disasters.