Recently some members of my family were caught in the dramatic floods in Colorado.
We were able to stay in touch with the family entirely throughout the dramatic and horrifing events. Within a day or so the family had to leave. While their house was safe the water, sewage, electricity and gas were shut off. The water plant and the sewage plant were destroyed by the raging river. Wires and lines were often broken by falling trees and poles.
What was stunning to me was that the entire dynamics of the flood and its extent was immediately visible on Youtube in addition, photographs from every perspective were promptly posted online.
We had no sense of being out of touch or being left out of important issues. From what other family members said the same was true on their part. They felt they could be safe and solve nearly all their daily problems with the help of the vast media resources at hand including telephone and wi-fi.
I watched a similar situation two years ago in Northern Japan where everything was much worse.
In Japan, I went to Fukushima two months later and repairs were almost complete in the areas which were accessible to repair teams.
I think we are not only able to work faster after a disaster because the media allow people to work together in larger groups more effectively. I think we are also better able to respond to specific needs and emergencies because of the communication that the new-media provide.