Wageningen University & Research - Department of Social Sciences Chair Group Sociology of Development and Change #Humanity Saved Chennai An exploration on the role of social media in the 2015 Chennai floods Master Thesis of MSc International Development Studies Thesis Disaster Studies SDC-80736 May 2020 Lucia Guaita Student number: 920620287080 Contact:
[email protected] Supervisor Dr. J.F. (Jeroen) Warner Sociology of Development and Change Wageningen University and Research Second Reader Dr.ir. G. (Gemma) van der Haar Sociology of Development and Change Wageningen University and Research ABSTRACT The heavy flood that hit the South Indian city of Chennai in 2015 stand out as one of the first large-scale examples of citizen-driven emergency response. Due to the absence of government authorities from this disaster emergency scene, groups composed of ordinary citizens, celebrities and NGO workers collectively developed an organized mechanism to rescue people and distribute aid in the immediate hours following the destructive event. Crucial to an effective and prompt field response was the establishment of a digital community. After the overwhelming amount of help requests and photos posted on existing Facebook pages, some volunteers created specific social media channels and digital platforms to centralize flood- response communication. Since Chennai suffered from communication-network and power shortages, the role of Chennaiite emigrants living in different parts of India and abroad played a key role in keeping Chennai connected. These digital volunteers established telephone helplines and verified locations and types of relief needed, collecting and assembling information in databases and updating field volunteer groups with crucial data for planning the aid deliveries around the city.