Social Media Changing the Way FEMA Responds to Disasters

摘要

More than 70 percent of people in disaster situations use social media to let their families and friends know that they are OK, according to a University of San Francisco survey. This shows that the use of social media in responding to natural disasters is becoming crucial to emergency response agencies, Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Ind., chairwoman of the House subcommittee on emergency preparedness, response and communications, said at a recent hearing. "Social media enables response organizations to quickly push information to the public - something that has not been possible on such a wide scale until recently," she said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has three Facebook pages and 34 Twitter accounts. It is imperative for response organizations to leverage the tools used by the public on a daily basis, Shayne Adamski, senior manager of digital engagement at FEMA, told lawmakers.