5 ways to help victims of #ChennaiFlood with social media

Chennai has turned from a city into an Island, nevertheless, more connected now than ever. A flood of kindness is seen flowing on social media trying to reach out to almost 4k people stranded and thousands other swamped due to water logged railways and roads.

With flights and other modes of transport delayed, social media platforms are being used by those stranded to coordinate, search, distribute food, and also open their houses for help.

Here’s how you can help and try save a life cause truly, whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely

Set up local action groups

To help the rain battered people of Chennai, Social media can prove to be a blessing for many stranded in the floods; setting up local volunteering groups can assist in reaching out to people. Hashtags like #VolunteerForChennai, #ChennaiHelp are used to urge others for help.

Those who are out of balance in #ChennaiFloods #Chennairains n need it urgently, Reply your Mobile Number with Operator Name, I'll Recharge.

— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) December 2, 2015

Please don't venture to Ashok Nagar, Tambaram, Saidapet, Ekatuthangal and Kotturpuram unless you are a volunteer. #ChennaiFloods — Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) December 3, 2015

We will be distributing 200 food packets at 11.30 at Central Railway Station to the stranded travellers. #ChennaiRains #ChennaiFloods

— Sorav Jain (@SoravJain) December 3, 2015

Stop spamming, start listening

Only talking about what is happening will do no good and add unwanted content, start considering what is that you can do for the people stuck in this heartbreaking situation by listening. Sharing useful information like IAF airlift, boats for help can still prove to be beneficial, instead of spamming newsfeed with things that have nothing to do with lending a helping hand for the #ChennaiFloods.    

Create WhatsApp groups

Creating WhatsApp groups and adding all friends and acquaintances that are in Chennai, will help you and other members of the group know who is where and what is the condition. The situation of the place a member is in, availability of basic necessities and the condition of the people stuck with the group member will be known to all and it can be used as a great resource for sharing what is going on.

#ChennaiRains Volunteers group is working well. Wanna be Part of it? Send me ur number to 9791134451 #ChennaiFloods pic.twitter.com/j52hOHH6A9 — Sorav Jain (@SoravJain) December 2, 2015

Chennai rain relief 2015 

This website is specially made for aiding the people of Chennai; it can be used for making monetary donations, food, blankets and basic necessities. The details for the dropping points and online transactions are given for everyone who’d love to help. The website helps in crowdsourcing needs and requirements of those stranded

Don’t mark yourself safe if you’re not there

With Facebook’s mark-safe option that is useful, it is important to realise that it’s meant for people 'in' Chennai. It makes no sense in marking yourself safe in Delhi/Mumbai. It just creates more chaos on social media.

A lot of Twitteratis or facebookers who have a larger audience following them, should put their socials networking skills to good use and establish a positive influence towards the greater good of Facebook advertising.

Also, don't be afraid of connecting the dots. If you see a post of someone offering help, connect him/her to someone who needs help.

While you're at it, use hashtags like #ChennaiFloods, #ChennaiRains, #ChennaiRainsHelp, #ChennaiMicro to help.