The American Red Cross is using its Red Cross Chat blog to update supporters on its efforts to help victims of the floods in the Midwest.

The site features photo galleries, videos, and written dispatches from workers who are on the ground helping victims.

“People have been sandbagging for days and expect another 10+ inches of rain in the coming days, unimaginable,” writes Joseph Hansen, a Red Cross worker, in one post. “You could even see the damage coming into the airport last night, roads just disappeared into the swollen rivers and ponds.”

Does your charity use blogs to update supporters during crises or to react to hot-button issues? If so, what approaches have you found to be most effective in reaching out?