Social media proved a winner for Bay of Plenty Civil Defence during Cyclone Pam's visit.
The organisation's Facebook page membership soared 196 per cent from the previous week's 1500 'likes', with a total of 4,767 followers by the time Cyclone Pam moved offshore, with a total reach of 93,845 people.
Group Controller Clinton Naude said while the majority of those who visited the page lived in New Zealand, and most of those within the region, a surprisingly large number were checking in from Australia, the UK and other countries, including USA, South Africa, Canada, Germany, Philippines, Thailand and the Netherlands.
"That shows the spread of nationalities living in the Bay, and where their families and friends are checking in from."
Before Pam was due to arrive the Civil Defence team provided regular updates on how to prepare and reminders about what should be in an emergency kit, where to pick up sandbags and who to contact with issues.