Social media is a means for millions of Floridians affected by Hurricane Irma to keep in touch. Many took to social media to send status updates to loved ones and to share their experiences with the world.
Snap Map, Snapchat's newest feature, provides an up-close video perspective of Irma's wrath. As the storm made landfall on the United States with wind speeds at 130 mph, Snapchat user videos with location services turned on were discoverable on the Snap Map.
Snapchat users can search the Snap Map by location and observe the location-based media with a user who submitted a story to Snapchat.
Snapchat's website provides the details on how to use the Snap Map. Go to the camera screen inside the app and pinch your fingers in to "zoom out."
[NATL]Photos: Long Road to Recovery Begins After Irma
Charles Ace took to Periscope Live near Hialeah Gardens, Florida to broadcast the winds blowing near his window during Irma. He told his viewers this is not his first hurricane.
"Let's call it what it is, I'm screwed. If a sunflower seed comes at me at high speeds, it will shatter the window," said Ace.
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While many took to Facebook to share personal status updates during Irma and journalists presented coverage related to the impact on both Florida coasts, many turned to Facebook Live to share their experiences on live video.
Pastor David Uth aired a Facebook Live to inform the public that services had been canceled at First Baptist Orlando and that the Red Cross is using the church as a shelter.
"We are doing everything we know to do.... it will pass," said Uth.
The Facebook Live map is a central depository of all Facebook Lives happening real-time across the globe. Anyone on the web or on a mobile device, can hover over the blue circles on the map to be taken to a real-time Facebook Live that was set to broadcast publicly.
One in every five videos is a Facebook Live, according to a Facebook spokesperson.
In addition to Live video, Facebook members leveraged Safety Check activated by Florida's Facebook community as a "simple and easy way for people to let friends and family know they're safe and check on others after a major disaster or crisis."
