Presentation at the 2014 Disaster Preparedness Academy. We’ve all witnessed the power and immediacy of social media in emergency response and influencing world events. It is imperative that organizations have a social media strategy in place for emergencies. This workshop will discuss why social media is viewed as a critical element in crisis response using real-world examples such as Superstorm Sandy and the Boston Marathon. Participants will learn about common social platforms, and how they can be incorporated into disaster planning. Tools, resources and techniques will be shared that will help organizations build an online presence now that will play a vital role when the next disaster occurs.

19. Presentation sources:
"IDC-Facebook Always Connected.pdf - File Shared from Box." IDC-Facebook Always Connected.pdf - File Shared from Box. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Sept. 2014. <https://fb- public.app.box.com/s/3iq5x6uwnqtq7ki4q8wk> .
Anderson, Monica, and Andrea Caumont. "How social media is reshaping news."Pew Research Center RSS. N.p., 24 Sept. 2014. Web. 21 Oct. 2014. <http://www.pewresearch.org/fact- tank/2014/09/24/how-social-media-is- reshaping-news/>.
Keys, Matthew. "Boston EMS after bomb blast: "Get on social media"."SoundCloud. Broadcastify, 13 Apr. 2013. Web. 21 Oct. 2014. <https://soundcloud.com/mary-jo-flynn- 3/sets/boston/s-7oIG2>.
Free training classes:
IS-42: Social Media in Emergency Management https://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=is-42
PER-304: Social Media for Natural Disaster Response and Recovery https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/catalog/23
Recommended networks:
LinkedIn Group: #SMEM Social Media for Emergency Management https://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=3788548
LinkedIn Group: Virtual Operations Support Teams (VOST) https://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=4041225&trk=my_groups-tile-grp
Virtual Operations Support Group www.vosg.us
Blog: Social Media for Emergency Management www.sm4em.org
#SMEMChat every Friday 9:30 AM Pacific time on twitter; #SMEM any time
Reports:
Virtual Social Media Working Group (VSMWG) Report, “Using Social Media to Enhance Situational Awareness and Decision Support” http://www.firstresponder.gov/TechnologyDocuments/Using%20Social%20Media%20for%20Enhanced%20Situational%20Awareness%20and%20Decision%20Support.pdf
Additional VSMWG reports: http://www.ghinternational.com/resources
Contact
Mary Jo Flynn, MS, CEM
Emergency Management Assistant Director
About.me/mflynn
Twitter: @MaryJoFly
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mjflynn001/
Email: maryjflynn@anaheim.net