On Twitter, portraits of Isaac devastation and heroism
As Hurricane Isaac battered parts of Louisiana on Wednesday, leaving some in southern parts of the state stranded and causing thousands to lose power, residents and observers took to social media to ask for help and to share updates and prayers.
Posts on Twitter painted a portrait of devastation and urgency in Plaquemines Parish, a small region south of New Orleans with just over 26,000 residents, where a levee was topped. Some Twitter users turned to the site to call for rescues.
User @bonnie_daly posted a photo of the view from a truck next to what appeared to be a flooded area, with this urgent message: “My brother is on top of the levee in #plaquemines parish in a truck. #Isaac. Need rescuing!”
She did not immediately respond to a request for follow up. Two days ago the same Twitter user wrote: “Brother lost everything in #Katrina, here comes #Isaac. Praying!”
Various users wrote about devastation in Braithwaite, a community in Plaquemines Parish where several rescues took place Wednesday morning.
“Prayers go out to the Devitt family today. Lindsey and her family lost all they owned down in Braithewaite. I love you guys,” wrote @ohEMJU.
Twitter user @ajnicosia angrily responded to some who diminished reports of storm-inflicted damage.
“To everyone that belittled/ridiculed this storm. It may have not affected you, but for some it’s a life changer. Braithwaite is underwater,” he wrote.
“Braithewaite you were like home to me,” wrote Twitter user @Yakemoo. “It’s very sad to see this day come.”
Praise also began spreading early on the social media site for Plaquemines Parish resident Jesse Shaffer and his son, who the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported were using their own boats to help rescue stranded residents.
“Fireman Jesse Shaffer rescuing a baby and mother in #Isaac. Thank God for our local heroes!,” wrote @HPCBarnabas.
Others, who watched from afar, remembered the devastation that Hurricane Katrina wrought on New Orleans in 2005.
“7 years to the day that changed my life, now homes are underwater once again,” wrote @Giavanna_St. “Prayers go out to my friends down there.”
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