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Damage to the Financial District, as Viewed via Twitter

As Hurricane Sandy paralyzed the financial district on Monday and Tuesday, the mood on social media sites became one of disbelief and concern.

The storm created a nearly unrecognizable scene in Lower Manhattan. Images of severely flooded streets were passed around the Internet, with people expressing shock.

Many were focused on the scene of destruction unfolding downtown, as the water rose to record levels. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo sent an image of flooding in Battery Park. A photo of flooding in the Ground Zero construction site was also passed around Twitter.

A user known as “amaeryllis” (Twitter bio: “business lawyer, feminist, eccentric”) expressed grief:

The frantic pace of social media helped an unfounded rumor gain traction. Twitter users began c laiming that the New York Stock Exchange floor was submerged in water, a report that made its way to CNN.

But that turned out to be false.

Lower Manhattan was still dealing with the storm's aftermath on Tuesday morning.

Initially, Twitter did have its share of caustic messages. A photograph of Goldman Sachs's illuminated headquarters, apparently using a backup power source, went viral online. With the power out in the surrounding area, some on Twitter could not resist making jabs a t the firm.

A picture on Instagram showed lights on at Citigroup's office as well.

But the overall tone of Twitter seemed to shift during the storm, as The New York Times's David Carr noted: