With Hurricane Sandy making its way north this weekend, the need for up-to-the minute information is even more important.

At Patch, we will be working around-the-clock to cover the storm, but as with of our reporting, the more interaction we get from users the more comprehensive our coverage will be.

Barrington Patch is as much your site as it is ours.

So in the run-up to Sandy, here’s how you can use Patch:

1. Get the news. When we know about storm-related news, so will you. From important town and village announcements, damages, power outages and floods, Twitter feeds and polls, we’ll have all the news covered 24-7. To make that easier and more fun, use the new live-blogging capability, where you can get all that information in one fast-moving stream.

2. Comment. Have relevant information to add to the live blog or to an article? Jump in and make a comment. Or post photos. These storm stories will continue to evolve as we speak to more officials and locals. You can be a real-time source by commenting and sharing what you're seeing.

3. Connect with the editor. Local editor Bill Rupp is the man and is reachable at william.rupp@patch.com if you don't want to post to the live blog or elsewhere on the site. If you have tips, call, email or text to conserve cell phone power.

4. Get the iPhone app. If the power goes out, your smartphone may end up being your only tool for getting the info on what’s going on in your community. Click here to get the Patch app for free on iTunes. Not only can you read news on it, but post photos and videos as well. Show us what you are seeing.

6. Take photos. Please, stay safe during the storm. But any photos you take of the aftermath we will prominently display on Jamaica Plain Patch. Email them to Karla or upload them directly to articles.

7. Shoot videos. Same goes for video. Our smartphones have put high-powered video cameras in our pockets. Send clips our way to help us report on the effect of Irene in your backyards.

8. Ask a question. If trees are down in your neighborhood but you want to know if your neighbors a few blocks away have the same damage, or if you want to ask someone in a flood-prone area how they waterproofed their house, post the question to the live blog or use our Q&A feature or add it to the shout stream on our homepage. Questions normally surround natural events like a hurricane. You can look to your community for answers. If no one responds, we will try to get the answer for you.

9. Ask for Volunteers. Our Announcements section lets readers post requests for volunteers. Use it. Depending on the scope of the disaster, volunteers are going to be crucial to mend the community. Any  announcements posted on the site asking for volunteers will be featured prominently on the home page.

10. Blog about it. When all settles, scores of your fellow community members will have “I was there” stories to share. Don’t keep them to yourself. Sign up to be a blogger and let your neighbors know how you held up during the storm. To sign up, just email william.rupp@patch.com.