Looking Back: Social Media During Emergencies

During Hurricane Sandy, social media and other collaborative technologies played an integral part in preparation, response, and recovery efforts. With the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season in full swing, it is important to look back at past ways social media was used, identify areas for improvement and begin to develop and enhance the tools needed to improve response this year and beyond.

Recently, the Virtual Social Media Working Group (VSMWG) published its newest document, Lessons Learned: Social Media and Superstorm Sandy. The report is the result of input and discussion from across the first response community. It provides an overview of how social media was used to prepare for, respond to and recover from Superstorm Sandy. It also discusses lessons learned and themes in the application of social media and other collaborative technologies.

In addition, the VSMWG announced the re-release of three documents focusing on social media in emergency management:

•  Social Media Strategy—a high-level introduction to social media and its benefits to public safety agencies;

• Next Steps: Social Media for Emergency Response—a follow up to the “Social Media Strategy,” presenting challenges, next steps, and best practices for public safety agencies that are developing and implementing their own social media; and
• Community Engagement and Social Media Best Practices—a guide to successfully using social media to engage whole communities for preparedness.