Emergency management 2.0: Integrating social media in emergency communications

Abstract

Social media services have changed the way we communicate and analyze information. Through social media services, individuals can exchange information with large groups of people in real time. Furthermore, web-enabled cellular devices have made social media services accessible to significant portions of the population at all times. Moreover, because mobile infrastructure is more resilient than other modes of communication, it is the likely mode of communication during an emergency or disaster. As such, local emergency management agencies should incorporate social media tools into their communication plans to effectively communicate with the public and to obtain an enhanced level of situational awareness during an emergency or disaster. Many local emergency management agencies are unaware of the benefits of using social media tools and have false notions about the liabilities associated with social media discourse. By educating themselves about social media services, local emergency management agencies will find that social media services are an accessible resource that should be integrated within their existing communication plans.