Guest post by Carl Hooker, Director of Innovation & Digital Learning in the Eanes Independent School District: This has been a terrifying week for myself and fellow Texans. When Hurricane Harvey made landfall last Friday night, it signaled the beginning of an onslaught of rain the likes of which our state (and country) has never seen. The catastrophic destruction of this storm has drawn comparisons to Katrina in 2005. It’s crazy, but think about how much has changed in our world since then. Look at the role social media now plays when it comes to a storm like this. At this very second, you can view numerous tweets coming in continually on the #HarveySOS and #HarveyRescue hashtag. The posts are both tragic and heroic. This photo of a nursing home half-under water went viral and immediately got the residents evacuated. My own family in Houston has used Facebook to share updates on their home and well-being as water continues to creep up to their front porch. Of course, as with anything in social media, there are also fake posts like this shark swimming down the Houston beltway. Despite the trolls that come with it, social media has really been a saving grace for many of us in the Lone Star State this week. It has given us piece of mind with loved ones and in some ways a call to action when help is needed. The scary thing is, the worst is not over. If you would like to help, NPR recently posted this site with ways you can help. Until then, continue to send prayers, posts, and positive thoughts to those in the affected areas.
