Web 2.0 and networking after disasters

This morning's Chronicle of Higher Ed points to Union University's use of Facebook and text messaging during the devastating tornado as a way to update everyone interested. Others who had suffered similar disasters are sharing their experiences. This goes beyond the casual uses of staying in touch and saves both communication delays and eases the mind of people who can't find information, especially about friends and/or loved ones.

These types of positive uses should outweigh the keg party pictures and other negative aspects of Facebook just as happened in the early days of the internet.