This document discusses the rise of hashtags like #memstorm and #memflood for sharing information during crises in Memphis, Tennessee. It describes how #memstorm started during a storm as a way to easily find localized Twitter updates, and how it grew to be supported by local media and websites. #memflood was later created during a flood, which saw even more widespread adoption. The document encourages readers to get involved with these hashtags to both share and access community information.

1. Use of Twitter during a Crisis
The Rise of #memstorm and #memflood
Aaron Prather, CEO Of StiQRd / @amprather
For MobileCamp Memphis #MoCaMEM
Saturday, May 7, 2011

2. “You don’t start communities. They already
exist. They are already doing what they
want to do. The question you should ask is
‘How can I help them to do better’”
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook Founder and
CEO
Saturday, May 7, 2011

3. Effective Use Of Hashtags
✤ Iranian Election / Revolution of 2009
✤ Haiti and Japan Earthquakes
✤ Egypt 2011
✤ Other Middle Eastern “uprising”
✤ The Boston Snowpocalpyse
✤ SOME Tech Conferences
✤ Follow Friday
Saturday, May 7, 2011

4. What Makes A Good Hashtag
✤ Easy to Identify - #egypt
✤ Short and Sweet - must fit in the 140 character limit
✤ Power Users
✤ ReTweets
✤ Community Supported
✤ No longer “owner” supported
Saturday, May 7, 2011

5. “The real lesson is that the Twitter
community decides what a hashtag is
going to be, not the person who created it,
and to some extent it is unpredictable.”
Mathew Ingram, Founder of Mesh
Saturday, May 7, 2011

6. A Personal Problem
✤ My personal annoyance with the local media
✤ Why do I have to visit 3 to 4 sites to get information?
✤ Why do I still not find the information I need / want?
✤ ADD
✤ I’m easily distracted
✤ Just the facts, ma’am
✤ I like to contribute a voice
✤ I want to help
✤ Photos, information, thoughts
Saturday, May 7, 2011

7. The Light Bulb Moment
✤ Ignite Memphis 2
✤ Presentation to encourage Memphis to use hashtags
✤ #memstorm
✤ #memsnow
✤ #memtraffic
✤ #mempothole
Saturday, May 7, 2011

8. Put into Practice
✤ Literally, the NEXT day -
✤ Severe weather rolls in to Memphis
✤ Start encouraging people to use #memstorm hashtag
✤ @memphisweather1 @HowellMarketing starts using the tag
✤ People start to RT the updates
✤ Shunned by the “mainstream” media
Saturday, May 7, 2011

9. Getting Acceptance
✤ The Next #memstorm -
✤ Getting WREG to start using the hashtag
✤ @memphisweather1 starts picking up more followers because of
the hashtag
✤ WMC-TV starts using the tag
✤ More and more community comes on
Saturday, May 7, 2011

10. Saturday, May 7, 2011

11. Lunaweb rolls out
Memstorm.com
For those that don’t use Twitter, now gets
the Power of Twitter
Saturday, May 7, 2011

12. #MemStorm vs. #FoxStorm
✤ FOX 13 decides to launch #foxstorm
✤ #memstorm community rejects and even attacks #foxstorm
✤ FOX 13 goes on the defensive
✤ Community pushes back even harder
✤ FOX 13 relents and joins the #memstorm community
Saturday, May 7, 2011

13. The Birth of #memflood
✤ Suggested by Drew Avery ✤ Shortly after 11:30 p.m.
( @CanesDrew ) Monday, a random sampling of
500 tweets with the #memflood
✤ Promoted by Power Accounts hashtag had generated almost
1.2 million views that reached
✤ Numerous Retweets an audience of more than
154,000 followers in the
✤ Fully accepted by the preceding 24 hours.
“mainstream” media
✤ Used by Government and
Quasi-Government agencies
Saturday, May 7, 2011

14. #memflood - 7,345 views in 1 day
Originally posted on private Facebook account that had 328 friends
Saturday, May 7, 2011

15. Saturday, May 7, 2011

16. So What Now?
✤ Make sure you have a Twitter app on your smart phone
✤ Twitter, Hootsuite, Echofon, TweetDeck, Twitterrific, TweetCaster
✤ Follow folks
✤ Create Hashtags just for fun
✤ Participate in the discussion
✤ Retweet
Saturday, May 7, 2011

17. Thanks and let’s talk
@amprather
Saturday, May 7, 2011