#ChennaiFloods: How You Can Coordinate Help Through Social Media

Here’s everything you need to know about coordinating Chennai flood relief through social media.

A man stranded in the floodwaters gestures to a coast guard helicopter for relief materials in Chennai, December 6, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

Severe flooding has crippled life in Chennai and left thousands of citizens in need of immediate help. While the accurate figures of devastation are yet to emerge, a cursory look at the landscape reveals widespread destruction of property and public infrastructure.

Many are left without basic necessities like food, water, electricity and shelter. To address this need, a plethora of organisations, individuals and citizen groups are engaged in relief and rescue work. A lot of relief work is being coordinated online through the use of social media and websites.

To make it easier for you to access these resources, we have compiled a list of initiatives for you to contribute and get involved.

#ChennaiRainsHelp: The hashtag is being widely used on Twitter to report and reach out to people affected by floods. Hundreds of volunteers and civil society members have used it to coordinate relief and rescue work.

Apart from this hashtag, you can also respond to @ChennaiCares on Twitter. Other hashtags that can be used to coordinate relief work are #ChennaiRescue and #ChennaiVolunteer.

Chennairains.org: This website is a useful repository of information on relief work. It provides area-wise updates on water levels, details of the aid required, and links to websites collecting relief material.

Milaap: An online fundraising portal is where you can donate cash for purchasing food and other essential material.

Chennai Rain Relief- SOS: If you are the one in need of help or want to offer assistance this Facebook page makes it easier. You can find more such initiatives here.

Screenshot of the page. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/bharani-shivakumar)

Isha Foundation: The Foundation is looking for volunteers. You can join by contacting them on the numbers below.

(Photo: Facebook.com/Ishafoundation)

Apart from reaching out to people on social media, you can also donate through NGOs like Goonj, Uday Foundation and World Vision India who are contributing to the relief and rescue work in Chennai.

For more options, you can check this exhaustive list by The News Minute.