Social Media in Emergency Communication

Question: Discuss about the Social Media in Emergency Communication. Answer: Introduction: We often ignore the power of Social media by labeling it as only a means of socializing. However, in last few years, the popular social networking sites have changed our views. In 2010 and 2011, the devastating event of flood in Victoria can be recalled in this regard. People used the social media to obtain and share information about the flood. Most significantly, The Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) also used the social media to share information with the communities in the flood-affected areas. The emergency communication system is organized to support one or two way communication of emergency messages. Emergency notification system is a collection of systems that facilitate broadcast of information to groups of people regarding an emergency. The social media is now being the most useful system in this regard. Even in the absence of mobile services they are disseminating emergency messages to the highest number of people. In the past few years, Facebook and Twitter have shared a significant contribution in emergency communication and disaster response. In the case of flood in Victoria, the social networks, open blogs etc. were used in reaching the people in need, making the public are and last but not the least, organizing the volunteers and the responsible organizations. Organizations like Red Cross have personnel to receive social media messages from the people who need help. The Director of Social Strategies for the Red Cross has once mentioned that during the flood in 2011, people across America altered Red Cross of their needs via Facebook and the organization has connected to thousands of relief seekers via Twitter. On the other hand, many researches following the event of Victoria flood, have explored that people used the Facebook pages to collect information about the wellbeing of their near and dear ones. Moreover, in many cases, people came to know about the event through the Facebook pages and group invitations. In the case of Hurricane Sandy in 2013, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mentioned that people sent about 20 million Sandy-related Twitter posts regardless the failure of cell phone networks during the storm. Moreover, the FEMA itself has used twitter in its rescue efforts. The eminent utility company PSEG said that they used Twitter to make their customers alert about the storm. Thus, the social networking sites have proved their utility in the case of lost mobile services and other networking methods. As the governmental and credible media sources, need to verify news or information before disseminating to the community, it requires more time than the social media sources. In the context of emergency communication, time is the most important issue. Hence, these social sites have a fundamental advantage in this regard. The ease of using these sites during an emergency is also making it hugely acceptable even to the governmental organizations. Moreover, its affordability and multiple communication paths is continuously making it relevant in the emergency communication services. From addressing the people in need to make the public aware, the social networking sites are doing a commendable job and thus altering the trend of disaster response and emergency communication.