If you are a government or public agency and want to know how to use Twitter the right way, look no further than AlexandriaVAGov.  This was a well-performing account prior to Snowpocalypse 2010, dishing out helpful information to the residents of the City of Alexandria, Virginia.  However during the snowmageddeon, its value eclipsed that of the last snow shovel in Home Depot.

Throughout the snowtorious snowstorm my family had many concerns: What number do we call to report a power outage? AlexanderVAGov posted those numbers.  What if power isn’t restored and the house gets too cold?  They posted the addresses of shelters and warming centers. From school closings to cancelled city services to the latest snowfall predictions, AlexandriaVAGov on Twitter was there for us, keeping us informed while everyone else lost their minds.

When the snow stopped and it was time to go back to work, they posted a link to a Google Maps mash-up that showed what roads were priorities for the plows and what the expected driving conditions were.  This was very helpful in planning a safe route.

Yes, Twitter is full of nonsense and, yes, Fake[Insert Celebrity] is a lot more entertaining than AlexandriaVaGov. However when you’re snowed in or in a similar emergency, your local government is (or should be) there for you.  AlexandraVAGov understands this.  I hope your local government does, too.

Image courtesy: http://twitter.com/alexandriavagov