Looking for information about the devastating hurricane that just hit New York, most people turned to The Weather Channel.

FORBES: Weather Channel Boasts Record Ratings Thanks To Sandy, Site Hits 300 Million Page Views

When I went looking for information about Apple on my iPhone, the process was so frustrating that I finally gave up.

FORBES: Cyber Monday Lessons: Apple Can Get Away with Outdated Mobile Sites...But You Can't

But she had held out hope that they were OK. Her son, Aaron Butler, had filed iReports looking for information about his stepfather and sister.

CNN: Americans killed in Mumbai attacks

Reporters at BuzzFeed, the Wall Street Journal, especially the New York Times and other publications have been a lifeline to so many in the tri-state area and those beyond looking for information about the hurricane, its aftermath and its victims.

FORBES: Slogging and Blogging Through Hurricane Sandy

Not only are they buying, but consumers are also looking for more information about how to improve their health, fitness and wellness.

FORBES: Launching A Revolution In Health

Google stepped in to help family and friends of runners find their loved ones, setting up a site called Google Person Finder that allows users to enter the name of a person they're looking for or enter information about someone who was there.

NPR: Loved Ones Seek Word On Boston Runners After Blast

As a result, people are increasingly looking to other sources of information for the straight story about what's going on, such as academic experts or even their peers through social media and the Internet.

NPR: Public Trust In Government, Business Leaders Falls