The Web Is the Eye of Hurricane Relief

The Web Is the Eye of Hurricane Relief: "The Web Is the Eye of Hurricane Relief
› › › Broadband

By Rebecca Lieb | November 24, 2005

Thirteen million people, or 9 percent of American Internet users, gave money online for relief efforts following hurricanes Rita and Katrina. Since the beginning of this year, the number of Americans who say they've donated online is up 53 percent to 26 million people, according to a new Pew Internet & American Life Project study.

Though half of all U.S. Internet users got news and information about the hurricanes online, most of these people (54 percent) sought alternative sources, including blogs, nonprofits, and non-mainstream media sites, for details. Five percent set up their own relief efforts online, and four percent posted their own hurricane-related material to the Web, including comments, links, and pictures."