Michael Faulkner, CEMOkeechobee Emergency Management

2010 FEPA , Daytona Beach

Using Twitter &SocialNetworking as a Tool

for SituationalAwareness &Public

Information

Agenda Introduction

What is Twitter?

Examples of Current Use

Issues surrounding Twitter Benefits

Drawbacks

Useful sites

Bottom Line

Questions

Contact info

Introduction

What is Twitter? Twitter is a privately funded startup with offices in the

SoMA neighborhood of San Francisco, CA. Started as a side project in March of 2006, Twitter has grown into a real-time short messaging service that works over multiple networks and devices.

In countries all around the world, people follow the sources most relevant to them and access information via Twitter as it happens—from breaking world news to updates from friends.

http://twitter.com/about#about

What is Twitter? The result of using Twitter to stay connected with

friends, relatives, and coworkers is that you have a sense of what folks are up to but you are not expected to respond to any updates unless you want to. This means you can step in and out of the flow of information as it suits you and it never queues up with increasing demand of your attention. Additionally, users are very much in control of whose updates they receive, when they receive them, and on what device.

Simply put, Twitter is what you make of it--receive a lot of information about your friends, or just a tiny bit. It's up to them.

http://twitter.com/about#about

What is Twitter? Political and Social Satire:

What is Twitter? Political and Social Satire:

What is Twitter? Political and Social Satire:

Examples of Current UseNEWS

NOT NEWS

Examples of Current Use

Benefits

Mobility

Size of Message

Accessibility

Drawbacks

Content

Physical Limitations

Regulation Concerning Use

Benefits Mobility

Twitter's core technology is a device agnostic message routing system with rudimentary social networking features. By accepting messages from sms, web, mobile web, instant message, or from third party API projects, Twitter makes it easy for folks to stay connected.

Requires sms or internet access, through cell or satellite means, the wide availability of which makes usage limitless in many circumstances.

Messages can be sent and received from virtually any smart phone, making it a real-time messaging and information tool for on-scene responders.

http://twitter.com/about#about

Benefits Mobility

Use in emergencies Research reported in New Scientistin May 2008 found that blogs, maps, photo

sites and instant messaging systems like Twitter did a better job of getting information out during emergencies than either the traditional news media or government emergency services. The study also found that those using Twitter during the fires in California in October 2007 kept their followers (who were often friends and neighbors) informed of their whereabouts and of the location of various fires minute by minute. Organizations that support relief efforts are also using Twitter. The American Red Cross started using Twitter to exchange minute-to-minute information about local disasters including statistics and directions.

During the 2008 Mumbai attacks eyewitnesses sent an estimated 80 tweets every 5 seconds. Twitter users on the ground helped compile a list of the dead and injured. In addition, users sent out vital information such as emergency phone numbers and the location of hospitals needing blood donations. CNN called this "the day that social media appeared to come of age" since many different groups made significant use of Twitter to gather news and coordinate responses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter#Use_in_emergencies

Benefits Mobility

Use in emergencies, cont’d The Australian Country Fire Authority used Twitter to send out regular alerts

and updates regarding the February 2009 Victorian bushfires. During this time the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, also used his Twitter account to send out information on the fires, how to donate money and blood, and where to seek emergency help.

Also in April, public health departments used Twitter to provide updates on H1N1 cases.

In June 2009, following allegations of fraud in the Iranian presidential election, protesters used Twitter as a rallying tool and as a method of communication with the outside world after the government blocked several other modes of communication. On June 15 Twitter rescheduled a planned 90-minute maintenance outage after a number of Twitter users and the US State Department asked Twitter executives to delay the shutdown because of concerns about the service's role as a primary communication medium by the protesters in Iran. CNN's coverage of the conflict was criticized in tweets with the hashtag #CNNfail. Twitter was also used to organize DDoS attacks against Iranian government websites

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter#Use_in_emergencies

Benefits Size of Message

Messages must be under 140 characters in length and can be sent via mobile texting, instant message, or the web.

Links to websites can be sent with a short explanation, which allows followers to follow the link for more detailed information.

Promotes “Bottom Line Up Front” communication during stress and crisis, as your thoughts must be concise and accurate.

Benefits Accessibility

The wide use of smart phones and computers makes Twitter available to the overwhelming majority of Americans.

US mobile cell phones per capita(2007): 846.782 per 1,000 people. Not every person has a phone, and not every person has only one phone, but the number remains significant. By comparison, 740.53 per 1,000 people have a TV. It may be easier to reach the public using Twitter than by TV news.

The ability of Twitter to be used on multiple platforms offers a rudimentary form of redundancy. If your internet is down following a storm, but the cell towers are still working, Twitter remains a viable communications method.http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/med_tel_mob_cel_percap-telephones-mobile-cellular-per-capita

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/med_tel_percap-media-televisions-per-capita

Drawbacks Content

San Antonio-based market research firm Pear Analytics analyzed 2,000 tweets (originating from the US and in English) over a 2-week period from 11:00a to 5:00p (CST) and separated them into six categories: News Spam Self-promotion Pointless babble Conversational Pass-along value

The firm found that "pointless babble" was the largest category of Twitter content, making up 811 tweets or 40.55 percent of the total number of messages sampled.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter#Content_of_tweets

Drawbacks Content

Conversational messages accounted for 751 messages or 37.55 percent, tweets with "pass-along value" i.e. retweets –accounted for 174 messages or 8.70 percent, self-promotion by companies made up 117 tweets or 5.85 percent, spam was 75 tweets or 3.75 percent and tweets with news from mainstream media publications accounted for 72 tweets or 3.60 percent.

Social networking researcher Danah Boyd responded to the Pear Analytics survey by arguing that what the Pear researchers labelled "pointless babble" is better characterized as "peripheral awareness" or "social grooming".

This is not an indictment of the system, but of the users and their posted content.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter#Content_of_tweets

Drawbacks Physical Limitations Requires communications infrastructure in order to

work. Is not effective as a “stand-alone” system. Not cost effective for the general public to maintain satellite systems simply to monitor or use Twitter, though Public Safety agencies likely can.

Energy dependent. Nearly all technology that can carry the Twitter service requires electricity, and few, if any, of that equipment is compatible with AA batteries. While many have recharge capabilities, during sustained power failures, service may not be accessible to the public.

Drawbacks Regulation Concerning Use

“The Wild West days of “anything goes” social media are waning. Adults are now in the room, and that means policies and procedures. Just as folks in the private sector will face more defined rules to guard against competitors, government employees will likewise find their social media activities restricted, or at least closely watched, in the name of discretion. Loose lips can still sink ships … or political careers, anyway… so agencies will likely batten down the hatches. Expect rules concerning what official information can be broadcast on government social media accounts, as well as guidance for employees on what information they can broadcast on their personal social media accounts, and when. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the rest may be banned in some government offices, but where they’re not, they are a frequent stop. The growing popularity and accessibility of the mobile Web means that even blocking desktop access to these sites may not be enough.”

http://ohmygov.com/blogs/general_news/archive/2009/11/12/social-media-for-government-6-trends-for-2010.aspx

Drawbacks Regulation Concerning Use

“For the Massachusetts Governor's Office, the rules of engagement are clear, and posted right online.

To paraphrase:-They follow people who follow them.-They use Twitter to connect citizens with government and to get feedback.-They review and update "as much as possible", along with other channels of feedback, outreach and engagement.-They explain how the feedback they receive on Twitter is incorporated in the same way as feedback they receive through more conventional channels.

Some agencies have yet to take the plunge into full engagement. They aren't following anyone. They may be monitoring @ replies, but are not responding directly to them in the public forum. Although this cautious approach may be appropriate under certain circumstances, does it send the wrong message about openness and willingness to engage?”

http://govsocmed.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-are-rules-of-engagement-for.html

Drawbacks Example of County Use*

[XXX] County social network administrators are personally responsible for the content they publish on any approved social network Web page. Be mindful that what you publish will be public for a long time.

Respect copyright, fair use and public records laws. Avoid expressing your own opinions, because your posts should represent the facts only, and are a

reflection of the [XXX] County Board of County Commissioners. Don't provide confidential or other proprietary information. Stick to your area of expertise and check your facts before posting. Don't cite or reference clients of [XXX] County, partners or suppliers without their approval. When you

do make a reference, where possible link back to the online references and original source materials directly.

Do NOT post jokes or use ethnic slurs, personal insults, obscenity, or engage in any conduct that would not be acceptable in the workplace. You should also show proper consideration for others' privacy and for topics that may be considered objectionable or inflammatory.

Do NOT discuss topics such as politics and religion. Try to add value by providing worthwhile information. Talk to your readers like you would talk to

real people in professional situations. Avoid overly obscure or "composed" language, but remain professional at all times.

Never make misrepresentations or dishonest statements. Acknowledge and correct mistakes promptly. Do not delete or remove comments unless they are spam, off-topic or defamatory.

* - County redacted, as policy is not yet approved at the time of this presentation

Useful Sites Government Agencies –

http://twitter.com/USArmy - Bio: Official U.S. Army Twitter: news and updates about our Soldiers around the world, as well as a place to connect with your Army. (Following does not=endorsement)

http://twitter.com/femainfocus - Bio: the Federal Emergency Management Agency protects the Nation from all hazards by supporting preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.

http://twitter.com/CraigatFEMA - Bio: FEMA Administrator http://twitter.com/FluGov - Bio: One-stop access to U.S.

Government H1N1, avian and pandemic flu information. http://twitter.com/ReadydotGov - Bio: Get a kit. Make a plan. Be

informed. http://twitter.com/DHSJournal - Bio: Updates from the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security.

Useful Sites Media Organizations –

http://twitter.com/TCPalm - Bio: News and information from the Treasure Coast of Florida

http://twitter.com/WPTV - Bio: Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast news from Florida's top-rated television station.

http://twitter.com/CNNkimsegal - Bio: CNN Miami Journalist / Supervising Producer / Member of the Florida Bar / travel website kimsegal.com / NSU Shepard Broad Law/ Atlantic City High School Alum

Useful Sites Florida Sites –

http://twitter.com/SayfieReview - Bio: What Florida's most influential people ready daily. Fast. Easy. Politics. www.SayfieReview.com #sayfie

http://twitter.com/charliecristfl - Bio: Paid for by Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate

http://twitter.com/George_LeMieux - Bio: Florida's 34th U.S. Senator, fighting for less debt and a brighter future for Floridians

http://twitter.com/congbillposey - Bio: Congressman from Florida's 15th district, representing the Space and Treasure Coasts

http://twitter.com/FLSERTInfo - Bio: (None provided, Florida Division of Emergency Management SERT)

http://twitter.com/SFWMD - Bio: The South Florida Water Management District is a regional, governmental agency that oversees water resources from Orlando to the Florida Keys.

Useful Sites Health / Safety Sites –

http://twitter.com/NFPA - Bio: Lorraine Carli, vice president of communications at the National Fire Protection Association. Follow me for the latest news on fire and life safety.

http://twitter.com/CDCFlu - Bio: Flu-related updates from CDC http://twitter.com/FederalAlliance - Bio: A nonprofit organization

with a mission of strengthening homes and safeguarding families. Visit our exhibit StormStruck at Disney's INNOVENTIONS

http://twitter.com/AllHandsDotNet - Bio: The All Hands Network is a unique community of emergency management, homeland security, and business continuity professionals who come together via the web

http://twitter.com/NIOSH - Bio: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (our retweet, listing or following does not mean endorsement)

http://twitter.com/Citizen_Corps - Bio: Citizen Corps is FEMA's grassroots strategy to bring together gov't and community leaders to involve citizens in all-hazards preparedness and resilience.

Useful Sites Emergency Responders / Weather–

http://twitter.com/JimCantore - Bio: Weather GEEK

http://twitter.com/hurricanetrack - Bio: I own and run hurricanetrack.com, a popular hurricane news and information site. During hurricanes, my team and I broadcast live video streams.

http://twitter.com/usfire - Bio: Official Twitter account of FEMA's U.S. Fire Administration - Working for a Fire-Safe America. (Postings and followings do not imply endorsement.)

http://twitter.com/FLSERTWeather - Bio: Severe weather information from the Florida State Emergency Response Team

http://twitter.com/FLStateWatch - Bio: Florida State Watch Office / Florida Division of Emergency Management

http://twitter.com/stormpulse - Bio: Honest weather. Severe weather tracking and mapping from Stormpulse.com.

Useful Sites Entertainment –

http://twitter.com/TheOnion - Bio: America's Finest News Source

http://twitter.com/The_Daily_Show - Bio: Episodes of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Follow clips only @dailyshowclips. This is a Fan Site and is not affiliated w/Comedy Central.

http://twitter.com/ColbertEpisodes - Bio: Full episodes of The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert delivered daily. You can also follow show clips @colbertreport

http://twitter.com/amandaripley - Bio: Writer type (author of “The Unthinkable”)

http://twitter.com/JoeGibbsRacing - Bio: Bryan (JGR's official internet guru) keeps you up-to-date on Joe Gibbs Racing with live track updates and exclusive behind the scenes info!

Bottom Line

@Twitter – you get out of it what you put into it.

Or:

Useful is as useful does.

85 characters

Questions?

Contact InfoMichael Faulkner, CEM

Okeechobee Emergency Management

499 NW 5th AveOkeechobee, FL 34972

O – (863) 763-3212F – (863) 763-1569M – (863) 634-6273

www.okeechobeeeoc.com

And, of course… http://twitter.com/okeechobeeeoc