Most folks understand what social media like Facebook and Twitter are. These are just the latest and most well liked kinds of social media, a phenomenon that really got its begin with MySpace. People use social network websites to keep in touch, to meet new folks, and even to affect social change. In an emergency, these sorts of social media are strategies for people to contact each other, and for emergency management to run more smoothly than ever before.
If you use Twitter or Facebook, just as two examples, you have potentially realized that moments after there is a national news story, especially a disaster of any sort, there are mentions of this that come rapid-fire on the feed. The recent Eastern US quake, for instance, had folks on Twitter joking about it, with some sending messages as it was happening.
The horrifying tsunami that devastated Japan was constantly discussed in the stream for weeks after, but during those first few days users were attempting to find missing friends, sending out alerts for help in finding them, and making pleas for donations to disaster aid associations. Organizations in Japan sent messages on Twitter updating sometimes every minute or two during the catastrophe and after so long as they could, until the power went out or the danger for them had passed.
The power to connect this way thru Toughbooks laptops and other mobile solutions not only helped many of us, but brought many people comfort that they weren't alone. But when a tragedy strikes, social networking can go past being social, and can function as a powerful tool to guard public safety.
Law enforcement, fire officials and first responders of all kinds would do well to think about having Twitter feeds and Facebook pages, at a minimum, that can be updated from mobile rugged systems during emergencies. They should also consider checking local feeds during and following emergencies for amazingly good info that can be helpful.
If you use Twitter or Facebook, just as two examples, you have potentially realized that moments after there is a national news story, especially a disaster of any sort, there are mentions of this that come rapid-fire on the feed. The recent Eastern US quake, for instance, had folks on Twitter joking about it, with some sending messages as it was happening.
The horrifying tsunami that devastated Japan was constantly discussed in the stream for weeks after, but during those first few days users were attempting to find missing friends, sending out alerts for help in finding them, and making pleas for donations to disaster aid associations. Organizations in Japan sent messages on Twitter updating sometimes every minute or two during the catastrophe and after so long as they could, until the power went out or the danger for them had passed.
The power to connect this way thru Toughbooks laptops and other mobile solutions not only helped many of us, but brought many people comfort that they weren't alone. But when a tragedy strikes, social networking can go past being social, and can function as a powerful tool to guard public safety.
Law enforcement, fire officials and first responders of all kinds would do well to think about having Twitter feeds and Facebook pages, at a minimum, that can be updated from mobile rugged systems during emergencies. They should also consider checking local feeds during and following emergencies for amazingly good info that can be helpful.
About the Author:
Rugged laptops that remain trustworthy no matter what the environment could be like can help during large and small emergencies. For a Tuff Book that will not let you down, check out Rugged Depot at ruggeddepot.com today.
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