Comments on: Social Media in Action: Twitter and Emergency Response http://steveradick.com/2008/09/23/social-media-in-action-twitter-and-emergency-response/ Exploring the strategery of using social media within the government Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:03:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: sradick http://steveradick.com/2008/09/23/social-media-in-action-twitter-and-emergency-response/comment-page-1/#comment-168 sradick Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:12:47 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=60#comment-168 John - you bring up an excellent point about not existing in a vacuum. Whether it's Twitter or YouTube or any other form of social media, it's important that what you're saying there is consistent with what your organization says in the mainstream media. That's why successful social media efforts are integrated into the larger organizational strategy - you can't have all of your social media efforts handled by that "crazy Steve guy" down the hall while your public affairs officers have no idea what he's tweeting or blogging about. It should all be visible and open - "oh, that stuff is too high tech for me to understand" should NEVER be an acceptable response from a communications professional anymore. John – you bring up an excellent point about not existing in a vacuum. Whether it’s Twitter or YouTube or any other form of social media, it’s important that what you’re saying there is consistent with what your organization says in the mainstream media. That’s why successful social media efforts are integrated into the larger organizational strategy – you can’t have all of your social media efforts handled by that “crazy Steve guy” down the hall while your public affairs officers have no idea what he’s tweeting or blogging about. It should all be visible and open – “oh, that stuff is too high tech for me to understand” should NEVER be an acceptable response from a communications professional anymore.

]]> By: FEMAinFocus http://steveradick.com/2008/09/23/social-media-in-action-twitter-and-emergency-response/comment-page-1/#comment-167 FEMAinFocus Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:12:36 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=60#comment-167 You are right about the value of social media tools for emergency communications. FEMA is in fact using twitter. We do have to be careful, though, and make sure we are supporting Incident Command principles and not overstepping what state and local officials are saying / tweeting. We search Twitter based on (FEMA) user location for people seeking information or asking questions. Twitters is proving not only useful in disaster responses, but also during recoveries to provide customer service and education. We are using YouTube to help tell complex stories as well. I think the more folks who see the value in engaging the government in these tools, the better we will all be able to shape useful communications for emergencies. John You are right about the value of social media tools for emergency communications.

FEMA is in fact using twitter. We do have to be careful, though, and make sure we are supporting Incident Command principles and not overstepping what state and local officials are saying / tweeting. We search Twitter based on (FEMA) user location for people seeking information or asking questions. Twitters is proving not only useful in disaster responses, but also during recoveries to provide customer service and education. We are using YouTube to help tell complex stories as well.

I think the more folks who see the value in engaging the government in these tools, the better we will all be able to shape useful communications for emergencies.

John

]]> By: Carroll Stuart http://steveradick.com/2008/09/23/social-media-in-action-twitter-and-emergency-response/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Carroll Stuart Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:46:07 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=60#comment-90 dj6t526vowrqsod0 dj6t526vowrqsod0

]]> By: phardee http://steveradick.com/2008/09/23/social-media-in-action-twitter-and-emergency-response/comment-page-1/#comment-81 phardee Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:28:06 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=60#comment-81 Hi, Steve--I can see the benefits of Twittering in emergency situations. Looking at the timeline between your first tweet and the FOX5 announcement is impressive. But one of your points gave me pause--"they would be able to pinpoint to the minute where people were, and what they were doing." That's great in the case of emergencies or terrorist situations, but from a privacy point of view, I find it scary. I'm not sure I would want my location and activities to be pinpointed every minute of the day. Hi, Steve–I can see the benefits of Twittering in emergency situations. Looking at the timeline between your first tweet and the FOX5 announcement is impressive. But one of your points gave me pause–”they would be able to pinpoint to the minute where people were, and what they were doing.” That’s great in the case of emergencies or terrorist situations, but from a privacy point of view, I find it scary. I’m not sure I would want my location and activities to be pinpointed every minute of the day.

]]> By: KT http://steveradick.com/2008/09/23/social-media-in-action-twitter-and-emergency-response/comment-page-1/#comment-20 KT Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:15:16 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=60#comment-20 @sradick - Interesting point about Kaiser. I agree it wouldn't be feasible for @911 to trigger an ambulance, but setting up a folksonomy of an @user name or #topic would help first responders, reporters, etc. more effectively search twitter feeds. After all, these people listen to police scanners, not every shortwave radio frequency -- they need to weed through the chaff and get to the good stuff. If a bunch of people in one location start twittering with @911 or #emergency, then the authorities can be alerted fairly easily, vice the uncoordinated words/categories you and the other twitterers used at JFK. @sradick – Interesting point about Kaiser. I agree it wouldn’t be feasible for @911 to trigger an ambulance, but setting up a folksonomy of an @user name or #topic would help first responders, reporters, etc. more effectively search twitter feeds. After all, these people listen to police scanners, not every shortwave radio frequency — they need to weed through the chaff and get to the good stuff. If a bunch of people in one location start twittering with @911 or #emergency, then the authorities can be alerted fairly easily, vice the uncoordinated words/categories you and the other twitterers used at JFK.

]]> By: sradick http://steveradick.com/2008/09/23/social-media-in-action-twitter-and-emergency-response/comment-page-1/#comment-17 sradick Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:41:20 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=60#comment-17 @KT - good point, however, then you get into the game of (and yes, the social media lead for Kaiser Permanente mentioned that they had to do this) having to send an ambulance every time someone uses the @911 designator. They had set up message boards, and people would go on there and say that they're having a heart attack and (I guess) Kaiser was required to send an ambulance to respond. How do you manage that? @KT – good point, however, then you get into the game of (and yes, the social media lead for Kaiser Permanente mentioned that they had to do this) having to send an ambulance every time someone uses the @911 designator. They had set up message boards, and people would go on there and say that they’re having a heart attack and (I guess) Kaiser was required to send an ambulance to respond. How do you manage that?

]]> By: sradick http://steveradick.com/2008/09/23/social-media-in-action-twitter-and-emergency-response/comment-page-1/#comment-16 sradick Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:38:45 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=60#comment-16 @Jon-Erik - yep, they not only mentioned it, but the CEO of Technorati was there, and did a whole keynote session on it! @Jon-Erik – yep, they not only mentioned it, but the CEO of Technorati was there, and did a whole keynote session on it!

]]> By: Jon-Erik http://steveradick.com/2008/09/23/social-media-in-action-twitter-and-emergency-response/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Jon-Erik Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:55:12 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=60#comment-15 I'm sure they mentioned this at the conference, but in case you haven't seen it yet: http://www.technorati.com/blogging/state-of-the-blogosphere/ I’m sure they mentioned this at the conference, but in case you haven’t seen it yet:
http://www.technorati.com/blogging/state-of-the-blogosphere/

]]> By: Jon-Erik http://steveradick.com/2008/09/23/social-media-in-action-twitter-and-emergency-response/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Jon-Erik Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:54:11 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=60#comment-14 The idea of Twitter is starting to grow on me, and reading your latest entry opens my eyes a bit more to the possibilities. I can see myself using Twitter as a tool for something as simple as navigating city traffic. Now being in a position where I'm expected to travel and meet with co-workers (from both regional and international offices) in various cities, Twitter makes sense as a simple way to track progress, late flights, ideas, etc. While I'm still preaching the idea of Web 2.0 to my co-workers, most of whom grew up without computers or cell phones, making sense of social media as a business tool or tactic will go a long way in establishing Web 2.0 as a viable communication option. The idea of Twitter is starting to grow on me, and reading your latest entry opens my eyes a bit more to the possibilities. I can see myself using Twitter as a tool for something as simple as navigating city traffic. Now being in a position where I’m expected to travel and meet with co-workers (from both regional and international offices) in various cities, Twitter makes sense as a simple way to track progress, late flights, ideas, etc. While I’m still preaching the idea of Web 2.0 to my co-workers, most of whom grew up without computers or cell phones, making sense of social media as a business tool or tactic will go a long way in establishing Web 2.0 as a viable communication option.

]]> By: KT http://steveradick.com/2008/09/23/social-media-in-action-twitter-and-emergency-response/comment-page-1/#comment-13 KT Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:02:33 +0000 http://steveradick.com/?p=60#comment-13 I agree that it's not feasible for FEMA and emergency responders to monitor twitter at all times, but what about creating an @911 or @fema (or even #emergency) identity/topic on twitter? This way, emergency responders will be able to search for consistent terms (or if they claim one of the @ names above, won't those messages arrive directly?). I agree that it’s not feasible for FEMA and emergency responders to monitor twitter at all times, but what about creating an @911 or @fema (or even #emergency) identity/topic on twitter? This way, emergency responders will be able to search for consistent terms (or if they claim one of the @ names above, won’t those messages arrive directly?).

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