#NEFloods2017: How you can help

As the floods spread from Assam to affect more NE states, we understand that people are anxious to know what’s the situation on the ground, hear from the authorities on latest developments and learn how they can help those affected by the flooding.

Get real-time updates on Twitter

We’ve put together Twitter Moments to throw a spotlight on the situation so far. You can follow the real-time conversation on Twitter using the hashtags #NEFloods2017 #AssamNeedsHelp or #AssamFlood2017. If you use @TweetDeck, you can open all three conversation streams to get real-time updates from all three hashtags.

We are working closely with the Home Ministry to communicate rescue and relief efforts to the public. Follow @ndmaindia, @NDRFHQ or @KirenRijiju for more updates from the government.

If you’re looking to help or track the latest development of the flood situation, we’ve put together a list of accounts to engage with. You can subscribe to this list curated by @TwitterIndia to keep track of the various agencies and volunteers working on the ground. The list includes:

• Chief Minister of Assam: @sarbanandsonwal
• Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh: @PemaKhanduBJP
• Chief Minister of Manipur: @NBirenSingh
• Government agencies: @ndmaindia, @NDRFHQ, @KirenRijiju
• NGOs: @oxfamindia, @goonj, @the_sara_org, @_IGSSS, @rapidresponse, @actionaidindia @humanaidint @wti_org_india @stc_india
• Citizen Volunteers: @InCrisisRelief @AnupamkPandey @vmoorthynow
• Fundraising platforms: @Ketto, @Bitgiving

Here are five ways you can effectively communicate through Twitter during a crisis and assist relief operations:

1. If you are joining the rescue effort, tag @ndmaindia or @NDRFHQ with the location of anyone who needs rescuing or any people/corporates/NGOs who can help with the relief efforts.

2. If you are surfacing new information from the ground, keep your messages clear and simple. Quote your sources to lend credibility to your Tweet.

3. Verify the information you are sharing or Retweeting. Do NOT spread unverified messages received via social media channels, private group chats, or SMS. They can cause a lot of confusion and wasted effort at a time when resources are most urgently needed.

4. Use your network and tag people you think would be interested in sharing this information with their own networks. Use the most popular hashtags in your Tweets to ensure your Tweets join the larger conversations. E.g.  #NEFloods2017 or #AssamFloods2017

5. If you want to help with fundraising, many NGOs are using these hashtags to collect funds and materials. Please see the list we have provided above and help them to spread the word across your network with a simple Retweet.

We hope Twitter will enable more of our Indian users to participate in the rescue and relief efforts, save more lives in the North East, and help the affected individuals and communities recover from this natural disaster.