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Necessity is the mother of invention, as the old saying goes, and there’s no clearer time to see that maxim in action than in the wake of a disaster. Much the way Bushfire Housing sprang up back in 2009 to help the thousands of Australian families left homeless by fires in Victoria and New South Wales, so Flood Aid aims to help those affected by this year’s devastating floods. Created by a team of some 30 people spanning nine cities and five continents, Flood Aid aims to be a social resource that can help connect people in need with those who can help. People affected by the 2011 floods in Australia and Brazil can register on the site for help with cleanup — offering supplies or housing, for instance. Those able to offer assistance, meanwhile, can also register that with the site, whether it’s carpentry skills, a place to sleep or some home-cooked meals. Social media including Facebook and Twitter play a key promotional role in Flood Aid, which puts no limit on the number of offers or calls for help any one user can list. The site explains: “Floodaid.com.au is not a charity, nor is it a business. We’re not a non-for-profit or an organisation. We’re merely an international group of like-minded people following a vision and combining skills to create a new type of social network with big plans for the future.” Coming soon from Flood Aid is a suite of mobile apps designed for similar purposes. Time for your generous brand to get involved with sponsorship, development or other practical assistance? (Related: Donated site helps families keep their homes — Virtual game purchases benefit Haiti Relief Fund.) Spotted by: Deborah Frenkel