Typhoon Ketsana (local typhoon name: Ondoy) drowned Metro Manila, the National Capital Region of the Philippines in what is deemed to be the worst rainfall in recent history. In a span of roughly 6 hours Ketsana delivered a month’s worth of rainfall totaling to about 341mm or 13.4 inches.

People living in the cities of Marikina and Cainta and Pasig were held hostage by raging flash floods that had them moving to the roofs of their houses to seek safety.

In the midst of this disaster, citizens used social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and the like to spread news, update their loved ones and ask for donations. The phone networks were clogged and it was hard to get through. People were recommended to use text messaging instead as it’s easier for SMS to get through the phone network.

From everyday citizens, all the way to major news networks, social networks played a crucial role in getting information around. ABS-CBN’s news channel ANC used their Twitter account to get news out as well as to receive information from people who were in the affected area.