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by Eric Holdeman: Emergency management in the blogosphere

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Fort Hood Shooting and Social Media Accuracy
November 07, 2009
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One of my mantras to people who come to work in an EOC is this: "The first report is almost always wrong." I tell them to remember that and stick it in their brain for immediate recall when notified of an event. This does not mean that you do not respond based on the first report. I call it "Riding to the sound of the guns." You jump on your horse and get to the EOC as quickly as possible to:

  • Collect information
  • Assess the situation
  • Support the field response
  • Coordinate activities
Below you will find a written report that I read about the shootings at Fort Hood that put the time at around 1400Hrs Thursday:
  • 12 dead, 31 wounded.
  • 1 confirmed shooter was killed - Major with an Arabic name in his late 30s.
  • 2 other suspected gunmen
  • 1 Fort Hood DoD Policeman killed
  • Shootings occurred in Soldier Readiness Facility which is comprised of multiple facilities. Primary shooter used handguns.
Confirmed by the Post Commander via news conference a few minutes ago.

What is in accurate about this statement?

  • Shooter killed
  • 2 other "suspected" gunmen
  • 1 Fort Hood DoD Policeman Killed
All of the above was "confirmed" by the three general Post Commander. And, the very first report I had heard was seven killed.

Maybe we need to redefine the word "confirmed?"

Which brings me to the social media part of this blog posting. Social media can help you paint the picture and bring situational awareness to what is happening during an event. Naysayers for social media decry the accuracy and that you can't trust citizen reporters and what they are reporting. I ask you, "Might eye witness accounts--with photos attached" be better than confirmed reports from three star generals at news conferences?

Yes--there can be errors in reporting by the average Joe and Sally, but those errors via official reports happen every day.

Tap into social media! Just because you personally don't use it doesn't mean other reliable people who have cell phones and smart phones (mobile computers) are not ready and available to be part of your information network.

Remember you can even ask them questions during the event and create a conversation.
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Studies have been done that having "photo evidence" can taint memories of eye witnesses reports, and, make others feel as though they have been an eye witness.
From John November 10
""confirmed" by the three general Post Commander." That would be a Three Star General or Lieutenant General.
From John November 10

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