Role of Social Media in Aiding Typhoon Haiyan Victims

SOCIAL MEDIA AND TYPHOON HAIYAN

Not so long ago, super typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) hit the central Philippines. With at least 5,000 dead and not less than P24 billion worth of properties lost, the country is devastated. Even the survivors of the typhoon are dying of hunger because of the food and water shortage Yolanda left. Fortunately, aid from different parts of the globe is being sent to the typhoon hit area to help the victims start anew. This would not be possible without the help social media.
Social media helped the victims of super typhoon Haiyan in many ways: in disseminating information about the typhoon and the damages it caused, in calling for aid for the victims, in risk mapping and documentation of the disaster, and in establishing communication between the victims and their families.


INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

Through social media, many people from the typhoon-hit areas were able to show the extent of the damages caused by Yolanda. By uploading pictures and video footages during the typhoon, they were able to make the people from the unaffected areas realize how extreme the conditions are in the area. Through sharing, liking, and retweeting, these information was easily spread across the nation, and even abroad.
Also, through socialmedia, different pictures and videos of the aftermath were shared easily. These images – which showed the destroyed houses, ruined properties and dead bodies on the streets– made the people from unaffected areas understand the suffering and pain experienced by the victims and sympathize with them.


CALLING FOR AID

Concerned citizens all over the world were also able to help the victims of the typhoon through social media by collecting donations from their networks. This was possible because many people are already well-informed about the disaster that struck the area, and many of them sympathize with the victims of the typhoon. Through sharing facebook posts and retweeting tweets on how to help the victims of the typhoon, the social networking community was able to help calling for aid for the victims of the typhoon.


COMMUNICATION

Since many people from the unaffected areas inside and outside the country have relatives or friends from the areas struck by the typhoon, communication is necessary for them to know the condition of their loved ones. Social networking sites were used by these people to contact their loved ones in the affected areas after the typhoon, which helped in making themselves feel less worried.


RISK MAPPING AND DOCUMENTATION

MicroMappers (link: www.micromappers.com) is an online app that can be used by anyone to tag tweets and photos from the disaster-struck area and rate the damage based on its severity. The data obtained by all the users will be compiled and plotted on a map. This can be used by the rescuers and humanitarian volunteers for them to see where the most affected areas are located.
After the typhoon, this technology was used to help the volunteers know which areas should be prioritized. This technology made it possible for them to save many lives in the disaster-struck areas. In addition to this, the maps can also be used to locate the areas that are more prone to damage in case another super typhoon strikes the area. This will help the local government redesign the buildings and plan for evacuation.
Finally, photos and videos of the catastrophic event can be used for documentation which can be made available to everyone. This will not only make us remember that we are not safe from the wrath of nature, but also teach us to always be prepared of the calamities that may come.
Social media is not only about selfies, rant posts, food porn, and funny videos. It can also be used to help other people in need. Technology might have negative implications to the society, but it definitely has more benefits to the community.