Social media a lifeline after quake struck

The Twitter address #HelpHaiti was swamped, as it pleaded with users to "RT like crazy" (RT means "retweet" or pass along a message) the 90999 number. Other outfits followed suit. Soon, fund-raising texts were zinging through the world to 501501 (Yéle), 25383 (Internal Rescue Committee), 85944 (Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International), and others.

High-profile tweeters such as Ashton Kutcher (4.34 million followers), former Wonkette Ana Marie Cox (1.49 million) and Jean himself (1.3 million) tweeted and retweeted Haiti info.

Indispensable for relief

Social media are now established tools for aid and relief agencies. From the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to the Iran elections, such media have proved their worth when others could not.

"This is an important tool for the new generation of philanthropists, and we pay just as much attention to those media as we do to normal channels of support," said Foley, of the American Red Cross.

Toby Smith, director of Internet communications at CARE, says, "Facebook, Twitter, and other social media are great ways for people to get the latest information on emergencies. CARE has been giving updates that have been reposted or retweeted by celebrities.. . . We've also used these channels to solicit donations. The total audience is huge."

Can social media mobilize as much money, blood, blankets and food for Haiti as older means? Too soon to tell. But there's no doubt: They're how we connect now when catastrophe hits.

Contact John Timpane at 215-854-4406, jt@phillynews.com, or twitter.com/jtimpane.