Social media can be useful for sharing information during emergencies. The document discusses how social media was used to share information about several disasters including the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, the Shadow Lake wildland fire, the Aurora Colorado theater shooting, the Joplin tornado, and Hurricane Sandy. Eyewitnesses posted first-hand accounts on social media that provided important information to emergency responders.
PoolParty provides semantic information management software and consulting services. Their flagship product is the PoolParty Suite, which helps organizations extract knowledge from text, make information more accessible using semantic web standards, and improve knowledge worker communication. Major customers include the World Bank, Roche Diagnostics, and Biogen Idec. PoolParty uses semantic web technologies to integrate knowledge models with open data on the web. Their software helps identify meaning in machines to build taxonomies and thesauri that improve applications like search and recommendations.
This document discusses social media monitoring and how it can help during emergencies. It introduces VOST, which stands for Virtual Operations Support Team. VOST is a group of trained volunteers around the world that can conduct social media monitoring on behalf of emergency responders. During emergencies, everyone will be talking about the event online but responders are too busy to monitor social media themselves. VOST volunteers can monitor platforms, identify trends, rumors and useful information and report their findings to emergency responders, helping them gain situational awareness and manage public communications during the response. The document provides examples of where VOST has assisted with emergencies in the past.
This document provides guidance on using social media for public health organizations. It discusses monitoring social media platforms to understand where different age groups are engaging online. It also covers developing social media policies that address access, authorization, and approvals for posting content. The document gives recommendations for managing multiple social media accounts, scheduling posts, and creating effective messages. It includes an exercise where participants role-play responding to a snowstorm and measles outbreak on Twitter to get practice addressing emergencies on social media.
Mid-Atlantic Region Libraries of Medicine BoostBox webinar delivered in May 2014. Discussed social media apps, statistics. Had a section on ephemeral apps like Snapchat and Tinder and another section on digital engagement.
Using Social Media Effectively in Disasters: Practical Considerations for Loc...James Garrow
This document provides best practices for using social media effectively during disasters for local and state public health agencies. It covers topics such as responding to disasters from other states, helping people who don't live in the affected area, using social media for dispatching responders, engaging the public as responders, having multiple backup plans, and creating a message library.
PoolParty provides semantic information management software and consulting services. Their flagship product is the PoolParty Suite, which helps organizations extract knowledge from text, make information more accessible using semantic web standards, and improve knowledge worker communication. Major customers include the World Bank, Roche Diagnostics, and Biogen Idec. PoolParty uses semantic web technologies to integrate knowledge models with open data on the web. Their software helps identify meaning in machines to build taxonomies and thesauri that improve applications like search and recommendations.
This document discusses social media monitoring and how it can help during emergencies. It introduces VOST, which stands for Virtual Operations Support Team. VOST is a group of trained volunteers around the world that can conduct social media monitoring on behalf of emergency responders. During emergencies, everyone will be talking about the event online but responders are too busy to monitor social media themselves. VOST volunteers can monitor platforms, identify trends, rumors and useful information and report their findings to emergency responders, helping them gain situational awareness and manage public communications during the response. The document provides examples of where VOST has assisted with emergencies in the past.
This document provides guidance on using social media for public health organizations. It discusses monitoring social media platforms to understand where different age groups are engaging online. It also covers developing social media policies that address access, authorization, and approvals for posting content. The document gives recommendations for managing multiple social media accounts, scheduling posts, and creating effective messages. It includes an exercise where participants role-play responding to a snowstorm and measles outbreak on Twitter to get practice addressing emergencies on social media.
Mid-Atlantic Region Libraries of Medicine BoostBox webinar delivered in May 2014. Discussed social media apps, statistics. Had a section on ephemeral apps like Snapchat and Tinder and another section on digital engagement.
Using Social Media Effectively in Disasters: Practical Considerations for Loc...James Garrow
This document provides best practices for using social media effectively during disasters for local and state public health agencies. It covers topics such as responding to disasters from other states, helping people who don't live in the affected area, using social media for dispatching responders, engaging the public as responders, having multiple backup plans, and creating a message library.
When Time Means Lives: innovative ways to shorten emergency communication timeJames Garrow
When Time Means Lives discusses innovative ways to shorten emergency communication time. It introduces the Joint Information System (JIS) as a way to coordinate emergency response teams across larger regions using regional or volunteer JIS teams. Virtual JIS uses online tools to coordinate between teams. Incident websites are proposed to share approved information, but they are vulnerable to distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks. The document outlines an approval process where the Incident Commander approves key messages that a JIS then develops and shares on incident websites and through other channels to keep the public informed during emergencies.
Social Media in Disasters: reports from the fieldJames Garrow
Social media plays an important role in responding to disasters and emergencies. The document discusses several case studies where social media was used during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the 2011 Virginia earthquake, the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214, the H7N9 influenza outbreak, Superstorm Sandy, a 2013 building collapse in Philadelphia, floods in Alberta Canada in 2013, and recovery efforts after Sandy. The author concludes that social media is a valuable tool for disseminating information during incidents, emergencies, and disasters.
Saving Lives 2.0: How Social Media will Change Disasters and ResponseJames Garrow
This document discusses how social media has changed disaster response and information sharing. It notes that social media has brought every disaster into people's homes by sharing photos and videos. It also discusses how social media allows the public to both receive information from and provide information to first responders. The document argues that with over 78% of Americans using social media, platforms can be leveraged to inform the public, gather eyewitness reports, and even help coordinate community response efforts during disasters.
Talking Health in a Social Age, NCRSMEM presentationJames Garrow
The document discusses public health emergencies and risk communication strategies. It notes that public health emergencies are different than other emergencies in that there are no alarms, they have a worldwide scope, they develop slowly, and sometimes there is no emergency at all. It emphasizes the importance of risk communication that is trusted, available, and appropriate. The document also highlights concerns during emergencies like rumors, misinformation, and stigmatization. It concludes by stating that social media is now part of everyday life and public health officials should utilize it in their communication efforts.
Preparing for Social Media in DisastersJames Garrow
More than 80% of Americans use the internet and over 67% use social media, making it an important tool to reach people during disasters. While 12% of Americans have used social media during past disasters and 40% would use it to let loved ones know they are safe, it also presents challenges like spreading sensitive or unverified information. Instead of banning social media during emergencies, the document suggests a better approach is one focused on peace, understanding and acceptance.
Social media plays an important role in disasters by allowing people to check on family and friends, share information, and monitor emergencies. Over 10% of Americans have used social media during disasters to check on loved ones or share that they are safe. Government agencies and organizations are also using social media to disseminate information and stay engaged with the public during emergencies. However, they must be wary of false or unverified information and gain support from leadership.
Representatives from China, FAO, OIE and WHO agreed on a standardized terminology for the H7N9 influenza virus detected in China. For scientific reports, the term "avian influenza A(H7N9) virus" will be used, and can be modified to specify the type of infection, such as "human infection caused by the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus". For media like Twitter, shorter terms like "H7N9" or "H7N9 virus" can be used.
The document discusses how disasters are experienced differently today compared to the past due to ubiquitous media. Now, even those not directly affected can view disasters up close through social media and live coverage, experiencing the pain and tragedy from afar. In the past, experiences of disasters were more localized, but now mobile devices and social networks allow information about disasters to spread widely in real time.
Reaching Everyone in an Emergency: vulnerable populations messaging in the 21...James Garrow
The document discusses using social media and emerging technologies to reach vulnerable populations during emergencies. It notes that over half of Americans use social media daily and platforms like Facebook and Twitter see high levels of engagement. The document advocates strengthening existing community resources and monitoring social media to disseminate timely emergency information in multiple languages to diverse groups. Examples are given of organizations using social platforms successfully during past disasters.
Chicago area Regional Catastrophic Planning Group Whole Community Conference:...James Garrow
This document discusses how social media and technology are changing the fields of public health, emergency management, and citizen involvement in disasters. It provides examples of how organizations like the CDC, FEMA, fire departments, and ordinary citizens have used social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to share information and coordinate responses during public health crises and natural disasters. The use of social media is transforming how these sectors communicate and engage with the public.
This document provides guidance on using Twitter for government agencies. It defines key Twitter terms and outlines best practices for setting up an agency Twitter account, including choosing a name and profile, designating posters, how to interact with followers, and posting frequency. The goal is to disseminate information to the public and establish the account as another communication channel, while avoiding potential liability from direct engagement on the platform.
DBH/IdS Social Media Lunch and Learn - June 13, 2012James Garrow
Social media usage has grown significantly, with over half of Americans now having a social media profile and 22% checking sites several times per day. While social media could potentially provide around-the-clock peer support for those with behavioral health issues or intellectual disabilities, it also brings risks and is not a replacement for professional care. The author advocates a cautious, thoughtful approach to leveraging social media in this context.
Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps VOST IntroductionJames Garrow
This document discusses the Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps Virtual Operations Support Team (VOST). It provides background on incident command systems and how VOST fits within the public information structure. It describes how social media was used during past disasters like the Haiti earthquake and US Airways Flight 1549 crash. It outlines the need for VOST to monitor social media during emergencies and support official response efforts. Finally, it describes how the Philadelphia MRC VOST would be organized, what tools it would use, and what forms members would fill out to track communications and activities.
CDC SNS Second Wednesday Webinar on #SMEMJames Garrow
The document discusses crisis social media monitoring and the differences between syndromic and operational monitoring. It also touches on the pros and cons of using open APIs versus restricted "walled gardens" for monitoring social media platforms. The presenter offers his contact information for those interested in learning more.
Where They Are @: or how I learned to stop worrying and love social mediaJames Garrow
1) Social media has become a major channel for communication, information sharing, and outreach for both individuals and organizations like government agencies.
2) For public health agencies and emergency managers, social media allows them to more directly engage with the public, share timely and important information, and monitor social conversations to better understand public concerns and needs.
3) While social media requires careful planning and policies around its use, it has proven effective for tasks like information sharing during product recalls, pandemics, natural disasters, and other public emergencies. When used strategically, it can help spread key messages and even save lives.
The document discusses the SMEM Initiative, which aims to document and share social media best practices in emergency management. It provides a brief history of the initiative beginning in November 2010. The goals are to document, improve, and promote the incorporation of social media in emergency management. Activities include the #SMEMChat weekly Twitter chat, the SM4EM blog, and monthly calls. Partners include CrisisCommons and Virtual Operations Support Groups.
When Time Means Lives: innovative ways to shorten emergency communication timeJames Garrow
When Time Means Lives discusses innovative ways to shorten emergency communication time. It introduces the Joint Information System (JIS) as a way to coordinate emergency response teams across larger regions using regional or volunteer JIS teams. Virtual JIS uses online tools to coordinate between teams. Incident websites are proposed to share approved information, but they are vulnerable to distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks. The document outlines an approval process where the Incident Commander approves key messages that a JIS then develops and shares on incident websites and through other channels to keep the public informed during emergencies.
Social Media in Disasters: reports from the fieldJames Garrow
Social media plays an important role in responding to disasters and emergencies. The document discusses several case studies where social media was used during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the 2011 Virginia earthquake, the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214, the H7N9 influenza outbreak, Superstorm Sandy, a 2013 building collapse in Philadelphia, floods in Alberta Canada in 2013, and recovery efforts after Sandy. The author concludes that social media is a valuable tool for disseminating information during incidents, emergencies, and disasters.
Saving Lives 2.0: How Social Media will Change Disasters and ResponseJames Garrow
This document discusses how social media has changed disaster response and information sharing. It notes that social media has brought every disaster into people's homes by sharing photos and videos. It also discusses how social media allows the public to both receive information from and provide information to first responders. The document argues that with over 78% of Americans using social media, platforms can be leveraged to inform the public, gather eyewitness reports, and even help coordinate community response efforts during disasters.
Talking Health in a Social Age, NCRSMEM presentationJames Garrow
The document discusses public health emergencies and risk communication strategies. It notes that public health emergencies are different than other emergencies in that there are no alarms, they have a worldwide scope, they develop slowly, and sometimes there is no emergency at all. It emphasizes the importance of risk communication that is trusted, available, and appropriate. The document also highlights concerns during emergencies like rumors, misinformation, and stigmatization. It concludes by stating that social media is now part of everyday life and public health officials should utilize it in their communication efforts.
Preparing for Social Media in DisastersJames Garrow
More than 80% of Americans use the internet and over 67% use social media, making it an important tool to reach people during disasters. While 12% of Americans have used social media during past disasters and 40% would use it to let loved ones know they are safe, it also presents challenges like spreading sensitive or unverified information. Instead of banning social media during emergencies, the document suggests a better approach is one focused on peace, understanding and acceptance.
Social media plays an important role in disasters by allowing people to check on family and friends, share information, and monitor emergencies. Over 10% of Americans have used social media during disasters to check on loved ones or share that they are safe. Government agencies and organizations are also using social media to disseminate information and stay engaged with the public during emergencies. However, they must be wary of false or unverified information and gain support from leadership.
Representatives from China, FAO, OIE and WHO agreed on a standardized terminology for the H7N9 influenza virus detected in China. For scientific reports, the term "avian influenza A(H7N9) virus" will be used, and can be modified to specify the type of infection, such as "human infection caused by the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus". For media like Twitter, shorter terms like "H7N9" or "H7N9 virus" can be used.
The document discusses how disasters are experienced differently today compared to the past due to ubiquitous media. Now, even those not directly affected can view disasters up close through social media and live coverage, experiencing the pain and tragedy from afar. In the past, experiences of disasters were more localized, but now mobile devices and social networks allow information about disasters to spread widely in real time.
Reaching Everyone in an Emergency: vulnerable populations messaging in the 21...James Garrow
The document discusses using social media and emerging technologies to reach vulnerable populations during emergencies. It notes that over half of Americans use social media daily and platforms like Facebook and Twitter see high levels of engagement. The document advocates strengthening existing community resources and monitoring social media to disseminate timely emergency information in multiple languages to diverse groups. Examples are given of organizations using social platforms successfully during past disasters.
Chicago area Regional Catastrophic Planning Group Whole Community Conference:...James Garrow
This document discusses how social media and technology are changing the fields of public health, emergency management, and citizen involvement in disasters. It provides examples of how organizations like the CDC, FEMA, fire departments, and ordinary citizens have used social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to share information and coordinate responses during public health crises and natural disasters. The use of social media is transforming how these sectors communicate and engage with the public.
This document provides guidance on using Twitter for government agencies. It defines key Twitter terms and outlines best practices for setting up an agency Twitter account, including choosing a name and profile, designating posters, how to interact with followers, and posting frequency. The goal is to disseminate information to the public and establish the account as another communication channel, while avoiding potential liability from direct engagement on the platform.
DBH/IdS Social Media Lunch and Learn - June 13, 2012James Garrow
Social media usage has grown significantly, with over half of Americans now having a social media profile and 22% checking sites several times per day. While social media could potentially provide around-the-clock peer support for those with behavioral health issues or intellectual disabilities, it also brings risks and is not a replacement for professional care. The author advocates a cautious, thoughtful approach to leveraging social media in this context.
Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps VOST IntroductionJames Garrow
This document discusses the Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps Virtual Operations Support Team (VOST). It provides background on incident command systems and how VOST fits within the public information structure. It describes how social media was used during past disasters like the Haiti earthquake and US Airways Flight 1549 crash. It outlines the need for VOST to monitor social media during emergencies and support official response efforts. Finally, it describes how the Philadelphia MRC VOST would be organized, what tools it would use, and what forms members would fill out to track communications and activities.
CDC SNS Second Wednesday Webinar on #SMEMJames Garrow
The document discusses crisis social media monitoring and the differences between syndromic and operational monitoring. It also touches on the pros and cons of using open APIs versus restricted "walled gardens" for monitoring social media platforms. The presenter offers his contact information for those interested in learning more.
Where They Are @: or how I learned to stop worrying and love social mediaJames Garrow
1) Social media has become a major channel for communication, information sharing, and outreach for both individuals and organizations like government agencies.
2) For public health agencies and emergency managers, social media allows them to more directly engage with the public, share timely and important information, and monitor social conversations to better understand public concerns and needs.
3) While social media requires careful planning and policies around its use, it has proven effective for tasks like information sharing during product recalls, pandemics, natural disasters, and other public emergencies. When used strategically, it can help spread key messages and even save lives.
The document discusses the SMEM Initiative, which aims to document and share social media best practices in emergency management. It provides a brief history of the initiative beginning in November 2010. The goals are to document, improve, and promote the incorporation of social media in emergency management. Activities include the #SMEMChat weekly Twitter chat, the SM4EM blog, and monthly calls. Partners include CrisisCommons and Virtual Operations Support Groups.
11. Shadow Lake Wildland Fire
"One of those trucks went across the bridge!" she told me.
"Wow. Even the school bus doesn't cross that bridge. It's not
designed for large trucks.
When we saw them going up that road, we wanted to run out and
wave our hands, yelling wrong way, wrong way!“
-hinessight.blogs.com
This is what academic folks call a trend. What really strikes me though is the AMAZING growth. In just three years, we've gone from less than five or ten percent of the country reporting they use the internet, to more than two-thirds. And this data is from February 2012, do you think the reported amounts are higher or lower now?
This massive growth in social media use has ramifications in the real world. We've gone from a world where a person has information, and in order to disseminate it, they've got to find someone else, via phone or in person or mail, tell someone else (animate first arrow), then tell someone else (animate second arrow), and on (animate third arrow), and on (animate fourth arrow). This is extremely labor intensive and slow. And frankly, inequitable. If you aren't in the "six degrees of Kevin Bacon" with that first guy, well, you couldn't find out about that info.
Today though, our information distribution methods have changed. Now, when we want to distribute information, we just post it online. And anyone who wants to (animate inner-most circle) find it, can. And they can share it (animate middle circle) with their friends and networks, and on (animate outer-most circle) and on.
And that information no longer travels along privileged highways. Anyone with a browser or a smartphone can access and forward it. And you can see here, that's more people than most folks think. Nearly half of all Americans have smartphones. And a racial divide? Quite the opposite to what we'd expect. More blacks and Hispanics have them then whites. Some studies have shown that they use them as their primary source of Internet access.
So lets see what's going on in the world of disasters. Can anyone see any trends here? Anything really going on? Well, aside from the blindingly obvious. There actually is something going on that makes this chart a bit disingenuous (though, not sneakily so). The chart is showing Reported Disasters. And we just talked about how it's easier to get information out, so we should expect that this increase should happen, even expect it to be at this crazy level. The little chart in the corner, though, is where the real meat of the matter is. Floods and cyclones--in other words, climactic disasters--are on the rise. And since these things tend to affect huge swaths of space, it's unlikely that they would've been under-reported. Somehow the source of this got cut off; its from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters.
This is a video produced by Twitter on the 2011 East Coast earthquake. Remember this? I was at work, and we totally freaked. Not a ton of damage, which is nice. I think Philadelphia reported a single pane of glass broken in one of the high-rises. It was like a practice run. And for folks who work in emergencies and follow social media uses, this video was the biggest lesson learned. (Play video) We, as responders, will NEVER again be the first to learn of something. Something blows up or gets knocked down or cataclysms, we're going to learn about it AFTER the fact.
Ushahidi is a tremendous tool that's been used by folks who call themselves, crisis mappers. Has anyone heard of crisis mapping? (Review CM and a bit about the history of Ushahidi.) On the top chart, you can see the massive number of reports that were received and tracked by Ushahidi. A massive data set of emergency reports, requests, updates. At the same time, folks weren't just using SMS, the middle chart demonstrates the insane amount of Twitter posts right as the earthquake hits. The darker shaded area, right at the spike, is the earthquake. While it was happening, 12% of all tweets in the world were coming from Japan, presumably about the earthquake. Communications were so affected in the aftermath of the earthquake, tsunami and meltdown that the State Department was reduced to communicating with US citizens in Japan via social media and other tech tools.
Similarly to what crisis mappers do, some folks (especially emergency managers) have begun organizing themselves into volunteer response networks called VOSTs. (Describe VOSTs.) In 2011, during the Shadow Lake wildfire (describe Shadow Lake), the IMT PIO activated the first VOST and asked for help with managing the social media of the event. The VOST found a tiny little blog had posted a blog post on the ORFire teams using a tiny little bridge to get to an area to stage resources. The blogger snapped some photos of the trucks, and complained that, while the truckers were placing themselves in danger from using this historical, rickety bridge, they risked damaging a key thoroughfare that the local used. In hours, the VOST identified the blogger, and connected them with the IMT PIO, who coordinated with the Operations and Planning Sections to ensure that no more trucks used that bridge. While this situation may have stopped at this tiny, completely unheard of blog, the complaints may very well have gone viral and generated significant public outcry directed at the response for their tone-deafness and heavy-handed approach. Being forced to deal with this outcry would have undoubtedly taken the IC and PIO away from their primary goal, fighting the fire.
Does everyone remember this one? The theater shooting in Aurora, CO? (Describe what happened.) Even though this happened in the middle of the night and was over in a matter of minutes, social media played a role, especially with the families devastated by the shooting. Folks on Reddit (anyone on there?) were among the first to find out about the shooting and in one thread began collecting every shred of evidence and mention about it. Folks with police scanners would post official police reports, people in hospitals were posting about victim admissions, folks in the area were posting on the ground reports. What emerged was the single most complete record of the shooting. The effort was reminiscent of what's considered the first time that social a media was useful in an emergency, the Virginia Tech shooting. Police and emergency managers we appalled to admit that people on Facebook has the full and complete list of victims identified and collated before the university released that anyone had even been killed.
EF-5 tornado struck Joplin, MO Nearby citizens set up JoplinTornadoInfo Facebook page to coordinate information City of Joplin utilized private Page to distribute official messages
And we'll finish up our last example with the most recent, Hurricane Sandy. I think everyone's seen these pictures, the damage from the fire in the Far Rockaways, the roller coaster in Seaside Heights. But from a social media perspective, aside from the natural progression of social media use and stories about the FDNY social media person, that's not the real story.
No, the real story of social media in Sandy is these. Pictures. Specifically, Instagram. Anyone on Instagram? Both of these pictures were taken by Instagram users, and showed what was actually happening, on-the-ground, in real time. Emergency managers, if they have wherewithal and ability, can have thousands of sensors giving ground truth. And this one (click for middle image to appear), this shows the future of what crisis communications is. Not only do emergency managers have access to thousands of sensors, so do the media. They actively search for leads on social media. And this isn't the first time I've seen this. Talk about the O'Hare quarantine story.
Thank you all so much for your time and attention today. If you have any questions, or want to learn more, head to my site. Now, if you have any questions, I'm lets chat.