Social Media Creeping Into Emergency Management Warnings

BY: Eric Holdeman | November 20, 2010

The current edition of Emergency Management Magazine has some statistics (it is a PDF, so see page 22) on the use of technology and how people are getting and disseminating information during emergencies.  This comes from a Red Cross survey of 1,058 people (adults).

 

You have the mainline technology/media systems that take the three top positions, but then Facebook is number four.  In total there are four social media tools in the 13 listed.  I expect these numbers to only continue to climb. 

 

There is another graphic that should be a bit worrisome to first responders.  the question was asked, "If 911 systems are busy, what number will you try to call?"  I noted that while  texting is only 4%, that number will grow too.  Next Generation 911 systems that are IP based will help with that, but how long before a majority of those have that capability?  I know Washington State will be 100% digital in 2011, but they will be the first in the nation.

 

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