Social media best practices in emergency management

Ashley Siskey, MS; Tanveer Islam, PhD, CFM

doi:10.5055/jem.2016.0278

Authors

Ashley Siskey, MS
Tanveer Islam, PhD, CFM

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2016.0278

Keywords:

social media, best practice, emergency management, Facebook, Twitter, EMA

Abstract

Social media platforms have become popular as means of communications in emergency management. Many people use social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter on a daily basis including during disaster events. Emergency management agencies (EMAs) need to recognize the value of not only having a presence on social media but also actively engaging stakeholders and the public on these sites. However, identifying best practices for the use of social media in emergency management is still in its infancy. The objective of this article is to begin to create or further define best practices for emergency managers to use social media sites particularly Facebook and Twitter in four key areas: 1) implementation, 2) education, 3) collaboration, and 4) communication. A list of recommendations of best practices is formulated for each key area and results from a nationwide survey on the use of social media by

county EMAs are discussed in this article.

Author Biographies

Ashley Siskey, MS

Emergency Management Assistant and Public Information Officer, Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency, Jacksonville, Alabama.

Tanveer Islam, PhD, CFM

Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Management, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama.

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