The logo for the Israeli startup Waze. Photo: Waze.

The U.S. government recruited the assistance of Israeli-developed navigation app Waze, which incorporates a social networking element, to deal with gasoline shortages on the East Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Using data posted by Waze users on the conditions of various gas stations, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been able to better determine where gas trucks should be sent, the technology news website GigaOM reported.

Waze was contacted by the government Nov. 9 and promptly launched a system allowing users to leave chat messages regarding the availability of gas and lines at the stations, the app’s vic president of platforms and partnerships Di-Ann Eisnor said. Waze’s navigational maps have featured pins to indicate gas stations that remain open.