10 Ways to Use Patch During the Hurricane

With Hurricane Sandy almost certain to batter Long Island this weekend, the need for up-to-the minute info is even more important.

At Patch, we will be working around-the-clock to cover the storm, but as with of our reporting, the more interaction we get from users the more comprehensive our coverage will be. Long Beach Patch is as much your site as it is ours.

1. Get the news. When we know about storm-related news, so will you. From important town and village announcements, damages, power outages and floods, we’ll have all the news covered 24-7. Refresh the homepage often, we move fast.

2. Comment. If you have relevant information to add to an article, jump in and make a comment. These storm stories will continue to evolve as we speak to more officials and locals. You can be a real-time source by commenting.

3. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Before we write an article we tweet the news out to our followers. Want the info the fastest way possible, follow @LongBeachPatch on Twitter and fan us on Facebook.

4. Take photos. Please, stay indoors if you plan to wait out the storm. But any photos you take of the aftermath we’d prominently display on your Patch. Upload them directly to our Hurricane or Weather groups.

5. Shoot videos. Same goes for video. Our smartphones have put high-powered video cameras in our pockets. Upload clips to our Hurricane or Weather groups to help us report on the effect of Sandy in your backyards.

6. Ask a question. If trees are down in your neighborhood but you want to know if your neighbors a few blocks away have the same damage, or if you want to let us know about a local business braving the storm, comment in our Closed Streets or Open/Closed groups.

7. Ask for Volunteers. Our Volunteering group lets readers post requests for volunteers. Use it. Depending on the scope of the disaster, volunteers are going to be crucial to mend the community.

8. Blog about it. When all settles, scores of your fellow community members will have “I was there” stories to share. Don’t keep them to yourself. Sign up to create a blog group and let your neighbors know how you held up during the storm.

9. Start a group. Perhaps residents of a certain section of the West End want to share info or you want to talk about storm updates. Create a group of your own right on Patch and invite your friends to follow/join it!

10. Connect with the local editor. Joseph Kellard's email address is josephk@patch.com. Use it. If you have tips, call, e-mail or - more often - text to conserve cell phone power.