Most of you aware of the natural disasters in Kerala from last few days. The level of disaster connected digital giants like Twitter, Facebook, Google, WhatsApp and Amazon to aid rescue and help. Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp, particularly, have been helpful in scattering crisis contacts, SOS messages and prompt area of those stuck in the disaster.
Even the authorities have also been using the internet and social media to help those who stuck in the disaster. While the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority put up mobile numbers asking people to send their locations on WhatsApp, the Kerala state government used Google Maps to create the option of allowing people upload their locations where help is needed, abridging the way of the rescue process.
Don’t limit yourself. Here are 5 tips to get the most out of Twitter this monsoon season. these tips can help keep your family safe during a natural disaster.
Kerala Floods: 5 Best Tips to Use Twitter
#1 Avoid Fake Stories
Never trust stories from your relatives or neighbors. Just follow trusted sources like Asianet News, News18 Kerala, The Hindu, the National Disaster Response Force Indian Navy, Press Information Bureau, the Chief Minister of Kerala, and the Indian Coast Guard to get the latest news from trusted sources. Some social media people post fake stories to get some retweets and followers. They don’t have any clear idea of what they are publishing, what actually happens. So, avoid sharing information that you are not able to confirm.
Graphic representation of Naval #SAR and #FloodRelief teams deployed during #OpMadad in Kerala post heavy rains and flash floods @DefenceMinIndia @IAF_MCC @adgpi @PMOIndia @SpokespersonMoD @CMOKerala pic.twitter.com/M9DamJk7Ju
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 10, 2018
@IndiaCoastGuard Aircraft monitors #flood situations in #Ernakulam #Kerala & dispatches Coast Guard Rescue & Relief Teams to #Aluva #Ernakulam & #Beypore for assisting District Disaster Management Teams in Rescue effort to save people from flooded homes& streets @DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/ni66pDWHWW
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) August 9, 2018
#2 Use Hashtags
Using hashtags like #KeralaFloods, #KeralaRelief, celebrities, influencers and people of authority have been raising awareness about the floods by posting important helpline numbers, sharing safe locations, and advising people to donate cash and other necessary items including foods. These hashtags are helpful for you in some situations. Use it effectively.
| Hashtags | Purpose |
| #KeralaFloods2018 | Relating to information concerning relief operations, such as locations of relief centers |
| #OpMadad | Solely used for aid or rescue requests |
| #KeralaFloodRelief | Raising funds for Kerala flood survivors |
#3 Use Twitter Lite to Avoid Challenges in Data Connectivity
In most of the area’s telecommunications have been disrupted due to no electricity and flood effects. So, the Twitter’s Lite version is a good platform to communicate and to know about emergency updates. Twitter Lite is a faster, data-friendly, and easiest way to get access to all the current situation updates or post live Twitter updates of emergency situations. The information on Twitter Lite can be accessed offline too. Twitter Lite is available at mobile.twitter.com in 42 languages including Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit, Nepali, Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, Gujarati, Oriya, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.
#4 Try to Tag Media & Organizations
Besides, the state government, common people also using digital solutions such as social media to help the flood-affected state. A team of freelancers from Twitter have developed a platform on Google Maps that accumulates and gives verified locations for shelter, rescue, food and water, volunteers, helpline, relief collection, transportation, medicines and more across Kerala. So, if you need help in any situations always tag or @Mention media, news channels, government agencies and relief and volunteer organizations who are able to help you. Related organizations include @RapidResponse, @thenewsminute, and @ChennaiRains. Once you’ve got the help you need, make sure you update your Tweet to save time and avoid duplication of effort.
#KeralaFloods: Kerala reeling under one of the worst floods in 50 years. We are providing food & medical assistance to the affected people.
Please donate & share: https://t.co/jb1HLyA4Kr#KeralaFloodRelief #Donate #KeralaRains #Kerala— Rapid Response (@RapidResponse) August 10, 2018
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) August 9, 2018
#5 Track the issue as it evolves with Twitter Moments
Twitter moments displaying the most relevant Tweets for what’s going on Twitter. Twitter Moments indicate current issues which are prevalent and applicable, with the goal that you can find what is unfurling on Twitter in a moment. Make a sequential record of the circumstance and clergyman relevant Tweets, which can fill in as a perspective later on.
28 people have died and many are stranded after heavy monsoon rains caused landslides and flooding across Kerala. https://t.co/QXiOLt7mta
— Twitter Moments India (@MomentsIndia) August 10, 2018
Source – Social Samosa
