Whether looking for a skillful barber or a top mobile app, crowdsourcing has become a staple of information gathering in the digital age. So, it’s no surprise that Long Island communities, greatly affected by Hurricane Sandy‘s destructive path, have taken to Facebook and Google Docs to seek information and share status updates.

The New York communities of Long Beach and Rockaway have organically created Facebook pages to share community updates after the storm.

The groups’ descriptions explain that they are non-official ways to share information from the neighborhoods and ask for help where needed. “This group is for the people, by the people. We are not an official site,” the Long Beach page says.

The community of Long Beach has also put together a Google Doc of missing persons, including names, addresses and ages of unaccounted individuals. The list at press time has about 50 names listed. There is also a shared Google Map, within the Docs, plotting the locations of missing persons.

Adding some hope to the difficult situation, there is also a shared Google Doc of people who’ve been found whose families may be searching for updates, including a comparable-length list of names.

SEE ALSO: 7 Ways to Help Victims of Superstorm Sandy Online

Though these pages have garnered thousands of likes, the question remains whether residents, who’ve been disconnected from the Internet, will be able to use them to find the help they need.

Have you seen any other innovative ways communities are banding together to share information in the wake of Hurricane Sandy? Let us know in the comments how your community’s staying connected.

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“Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens.” Via Official New York City Fire Department

“Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens.”

Via Official New York City Fire Department

“Damage being repaired on the roof of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Arts and Crafts Center after Hurricane Sandy made landfall.”

Via Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs/Sgt. Brett Perkins

Via North Carolina Department of Public Transportation

“No traffic on the FDR today. This was all under water the night before. It’s amazing how a storm like Sandy can completely shut down an entire city.”

Via WanderingtheWorld

A submerged escalator at the South Ferry subway station in Lower Manhattan. Via MTA

People bail water from a basement of an East Village business. Via Brennan Cavanaugh

“Bleeker Street Pizza: OPEN- The electricity was still out, but they were making pizza anyway, with the help of their gas-fired oven and a few spelunker head lamps.”

Via Nick Sherman

Via jesseandgreg

A truck is submerged in Battery Park, Manhattan. Via Andrea Canning

“Hurricane Sandy damage in Belmar, N.J. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012.” Via Talk Radio News Service

“Aerial views of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast taken during a search and rescue mission by 1-150 Assault Helicopter Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard, Oct. 30, 2012.”

Via U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released

Via Andrew Cuomo

Via thejkinz

A street underwater. Via thejkinz

A tree uprooted in Long Island, New York. Via nikki_skye

via Meghan Pipe

Via lafontainenissan

Via miss_pagano

“Main St. After Hurricane Sandy” Via DumboNYC

“Jane’s carousel is basically an island now. Poor horses.” Via andjelicaaa

Via toastmatic

Via katemcdermott7

“John Schmidt, of the West Virginia Field Office, photographed his backyard during Hurricane Sandy.” Via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services

Via juspostbellum

Via anitaaaaaaaaaa3

“President Obama visits the American Red Cross Digital Command Center following Hurricane Sandy”

Via Dell

“Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, visits Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment Oct. 30 in Portsmouth, Va. “

Via Virginia Guard Public Affairs

“Spc. Anthony Monte along with Soldiers from the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, mobilized for Hurricane Sandy provide assistance to displaced residents at an emergency shelter at the Werblin Recreation Center, Piscataway Township, N.J., Oct. 29, 2012.”Via U.S. Army

Via John deGuzman

“Virginia National Guard Soldiers trudged through high water and cut trees to clear a path for two rescue missions that transported seven adults and one child to safety at two locations on Cattail Road in the Mears, Va. area Oct. 30.” Via The National Gaurd

A car that has been smashed by a tree in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Via CSondi

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“Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens.” Via Official New York City Fire Department

---

“Destruction after fire in Breezy Point, Queens.”

Via Official New York City Fire Department

---

“Damage being repaired on the roof of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Arts and Crafts Center after Hurricane Sandy made landfall.”

Via Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs/Sgt. Brett Perkins

---

Via North Carolina Department of Public Transportation

---

“No traffic on the FDR today. This was all under water the night before. It’s amazing how a storm like Sandy can completely shut down an entire city.”

Via WanderingtheWorld

---

A submerged escalator at the South Ferry subway station in Lower Manhattan. Via MTA

---

People bail water from a basement of an East Village business. Via Brennan Cavanaugh

---

“Bleeker Street Pizza: OPEN- The electricity was still out, but they were making pizza anyway, with the help of their gas-fired oven and a few spelunker head lamps.”

Via Nick Sherman

---

Via jesseandgreg

---

A truck is submerged in Battery Park, Manhattan. Via Andrea Canning

---

“Hurricane Sandy damage in Belmar, N.J. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012.” Via Talk Radio News Service

---

“Aerial views of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the New Jersey coast taken during a search and rescue mission by 1-150 Assault Helicopter Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard, Oct. 30, 2012.”

Via U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released

---

Via Andrew Cuomo

---

Via thejkinz

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A street underwater. Via thejkinz

---

A tree uprooted in Long Island, New York. Via nikki_skye

---

via Meghan Pipe

---

Via lafontainenissan

---

Via miss_pagano

---

“Main St. After Hurricane Sandy” Via DumboNYC

---

“Jane’s carousel is basically an island now. Poor horses.” Via andjelicaaa

---

Via toastmatic

---

Via katemcdermott7

---

“John Schmidt, of the West Virginia Field Office, photographed his backyard during Hurricane Sandy.” Via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services

---

Via juspostbellum

---

Via anitaaaaaaaaaa3

---

“President Obama visits the American Red Cross Digital Command Center following Hurricane Sandy”

Via Dell

---

“Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, visits Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment Oct. 30 in Portsmouth, Va. “

Via Virginia Guard Public Affairs

---

“Spc. Anthony Monte along with Soldiers from the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, mobilized for Hurricane Sandy provide assistance to displaced residents at an emergency shelter at the Werblin Recreation Center, Piscataway Township, N.J., Oct. 29, 2012.”Via U.S. Army

---

Via John deGuzman

---

“Virginia National Guard Soldiers trudged through high water and cut trees to clear a path for two rescue missions that transported seven adults and one child to safety at two locations on Cattail Road in the Mears, Va. area Oct. 30.” Via The National Gaurd

---

A car that has been smashed by a tree in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Via CSondi

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• New York City Subway Stations Turn Into Eery, Empty Platforms
• 6 Fake Hurricane Sandy Photos You’re Sharing on Social Media
• Here’s Proof That Hurricane Sandy Is Nothing Like Irene
• Incredible Viral Soldier Pic Debunked by Military
• Boy Rides Air Mattress Through Flooded Virginia Streets
• How Will Hurricane Sandy Affect The Internet? [VIDEO]
• 5 Emergency Apps to Download Before Hurricane Sandy Hits [VIDEO]
• How to Use Facebook and Twitter Without the Internet

Image courtesy of Facebook, Rockaway Emergency Plan

Article source: http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/rtYF3C32KcA/

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