According to a report to be published in tomorrow's New Scientist, blogs, maps, photo sites and instant messaging systems were better at providing warnings, help and lists of how individuals were affected than traditional sources.

The research was led by Leysia Palen, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Colorado.

During the Virginia shootings, they found the emergency services were slow to update their reports on the latest situation and the names of those killed.

Within just 90 minutes of the first deaths, however, a web page accurately describing the events appeared on web encyclopedia Wikipedia.

Twenty minutes after that, Facebook users had set up a group called 'I’m OK at VT’, which allowed students and staff to reassure the wider world that they were safe.

A Facebook discussion was also begun which authoritatively listed the victims and whether people were feared dead rather than confirmed dead.

During the California fires, web users on sites including instant messaging forum Twitter kept friends and neighbours informed of their condition, minute by minute.

They also used Google Maps to track the progress of the fire and mark areas where schools and businesses were closed.

Reports elsewhere indicate that use of mobile technologies by non-profit organizations on the ground is skyrocketing, and the Telegraph makes mention of the American Red Cross using Twitter to exchange local information during disasters.

Read the Telegraph's coverage here:

To see Facebook's remarkable growth in Canada over the past year, check here. You'll find stats for London, Ont., and Kelowna, but none for Victoria, alas. I'm assuming Victoria's included in the Vancouver network figures. Whatever happened to that petition for a Vancouver Island network?