Australian bushfires on social media channels
The world watches on helplessly as the death-toll from the deadliest bushfires in Australia’s history could reach into the hundreds. The unfolding tragedy which has been described by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as “hell in all its fury” continues to destroy homes in the North East area of Melbourne whilst people around the globe anxiously look on, turning to social media channels to get the latest news from eyewitnesses on the ground.
Unsurprisingly, Twitter is emerging to be the communications channel of choice for thousands of people eager to hear the latest accounts of the situation in South Eastern Australia. Several hashtags have been created to enable people to follow the news.
#bushfires is being used to strictly cover latest news and up to the minute alerts whilst #firecomments is the given tag for all maps, photos, comments and commiserations.
On Facebook a number of groups have been set up to support the victims’ families, the Country Fire Authority (CFA), and communities under threat from blazes burning across the site.
The most popular Facebook group is one titled ‘Applaud the CFA heroes & empathise with the victims of the 09 Vic bushfires‘ and has 9524 members at the time of writing this post.
It’s impressive that in such a short space of time, fundraising efforts have appeared very quickly on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter galvanising public support in the face of true impotence. A quote from the Facebook Group:
Victoria has experienced its worst bushfires since the deadly Ash Wednesday infernos 26 years ago.
More stories of survival and loss are emerging from Victoria, where intense bushfires have destroyed 640 homes and killed at least 108 people.
Virtually the entire township of Marysville in the Yarra Valley was destroyed overnight.
In Gippsland, more than 500 firefighters are battling to control two major blazes.
Touring the fire grounds with the premier and chief commissioner, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a joint federal-state $10 million emergency relief fund for the victims.
RED CROSS is accepting all donations: 1800 811 700
( If the line is busy please hang up and try again)**** PLEASE DONATE BLOOD* Donate blood at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service – 131 495
HOW YOU CAN HELP
* Donations to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund can be made at any National Australia Bank. BSB: 082 001 – Account: 860 046 797
Applaud the CFA heroes & empathise with the victims of the 09 Vic bushfires
Google has even created a mashup of the bushfires, taking a real-time RSS feed from the Country Fire Authority’s site and mapping them out using its GoogleMaps API allowing people to check on the status of the damage in areas where friends and family reside.
Google Australia’s official blog makes the following statement about the FlashMap:
We hope that it’s of some use to people who may be affected, to emergency services personnel, and that it takes some load off other websites which are being inundated. The map certainly makes the scale of this disaster immediately apparent.
My best wishes go out to all those affected by the fires and to those who have family and friends in the region. If you would like to donate to the Australian Relief Fund, you can do so here.
raxlakhani: Social media tells it like it is: Bush Fires http://tinyurl.com/ccyx6l from: - let us know your stories in the comments section #fireupdates 02/09/09 10:04am- raxlakhani: Australian Bush Fires on social media channels: #firecomments #bushfires http://tinyurl.com/ccyx6l 02/09/09 08:51am
- raxlakhani: Australian Bush Fires on Google Maps http://tinyurl.com/ccyx6l 02/09/09 08:43am
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“Scorched Saturday” is something most of us in Victoria could have lived without. And we’re still in the middle of the danger as I write, with it not quite over yet.
Twitter has been an effective tool, although we’re still new at using it for citizen journalism/emergency information just yet.
But it’s a help. And it’s enabling some of us to do a little bit more in our state’s time of crisis.
Keep following #bushfires #vicfires and #fireupdates
George – I really appreciate the way that you’re still taking time to update us all on the situation. Believe me, your reporting is doing lots to help us all stay ‘connected’ with what you and your community is going through.
We’re hoping that the worst is over but will continue to encourage others to donate to the Victria Bushfires Appeal via the Red Cross and other charities: http://www.redcross.org.au/
Please stay safe.
You’re a legend!
Your account is extremely comprehensive and very well presented.
Indeed we are now living in a time where technology is playing an increasingly significant role in human affairs – and even more so in major events/tragedies such as these.
I am an Australian currently over in London and the information I have been able to access online has been just incredible – long gone are the days when we had to wait for the 6pm news report! I love the concept of ”citizen journalism”, love the fact that I can easily communicate with a range of people including those on the ”ground” of the tragedy so to speak.
I think the wealth of this information can only be beneficial and can only really encourage people to not only ackowledge the event, but perhaps contribute to the recovery from this. Whilst I am disgusted to hear allegations of arson in respect of these fires, my anger is more and more sobered by news of the thousands of people around the world who are willing to help – It always seems renews my faith in human kind.
Keep up the good work with this blog – the world needs information like this…
Bernadette Kennedy
Hi Bernadette
Thanks for your feedback on the blog – I really appreciate your thoughts.
I do hope that all of your friends and family are safe and haven’t been directly effected by the recent Melbourne fires.
I agree that new technology can help ease the pain during such times by allowing disparate communities to show their solidarity and support for fundraising efforts. Already, I’ve received numerous Tweets, emails and Facebook updates linking to one of the many online charity appeals for the Victoria fire victims (e.g. https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonations.asp). As well as donating to the fund, like many others I’ve pledged to pass the links on to my own social networks. This type of ‘viral’ fundraising not only generates much needed cash for the on-the-ground charities but also gives a very clear message of support which I hope will be heard by the thousands of victims of this tragic event.
I can only imagine how hard it must be for someone like you who is far from home, having to witness such scenes. I’m glad though that you have the means to keep yourself informed of the situation via traditional and newer media channels.
Once again, thanks so much for taking the time to comment.
Regards
Rax
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