Emergency 2.0 is coming to a website near you / New Scientist, 2 May 2008
http://technology.newscientist.com/channel/tech/mg19826545.900-emergency-20-is-coming-to-a-website-near-you.html?feedId=online-news_rss20
"In October 2007, when wildfires ravaged the state again and residents banded together... Armed with an array of online "social media" tools such as blogs, annotatable maps, photo sites and instant messenging services, they were able to gather and disseminate information on, for example, the progress of the fire, the location of evacuation areas and shelters, and which schools and businesses were closed - information unavailable through traditional channels."