Twitter could have been one of the few ways those affected could get through in the minutes following the quake: MSNBC reported that Verizon Wireless suffered heavy congestion on its East Coast network, and anecdotally I can report that AT&T calls from time to time failed to connect.

Text messaging worked like a charm, though, and is the recommended method of communication according to wireless industry group CTIA.

"In these high volume instances, there can be delays," spokesperson Amy Storey told PCWorld. "We encourage people to send text messages and emails to contact their loved ones until volume returns to normal." Storey says knows of no major infrastructure damage.

Above and beyond the obvious spike in communication, social media is also helping scientists to better understand the quake. For several years now, the U.S. Geological Survey has been using a platform called "Did You Feel It?" which anecdotal reports from the Internet on earthquake events.