Staying Connected Through Social Media During '11 Flood

10/23/2012 (Updated 10/24/2012 12:04:31 AM)

Last year's flood left many people feeling not only in danger, but isolated.
 
Part of that feeling of being cut off from help and from friends and vital information was re-connected through various forms of social media.

In Owego, officials and various first responders met Tuesday to discuss the role played by social media, as victims were left without electricity, television, radio, and phone access.

"The Sheriff used Twitter.  He found it to be a real helpful tool in getting information out to people. Just the fact that more people have cell phones now is huge. It allowed people to communicate with each other find different things that they needed from each other but also to let loved ones know they were okay," said Doug Barton the Director of Economic Development Plan Tioga County.

Barton said other social media outlets such as Facebook played a big role in getting the crucial information out to the public.