Using Social Media toCommunicate
Emergency Response
Dave Lawry, P.E.Chastain and Associates
Pam Broviak, P.E.Public Works Group
Introductions
Outline• Opportunities• Technologies• Social Media Tools• Organizational Use• Testimonials• Challenges
What does thismean
for us?
Technology at work is increasing at an exponential rate
The importance of communication is
increasing
The rules are changing
Don’t let others tell our story
Microblogging
Operations—Microblogging
http://www.facebook.com/cityofelgin
Videos
Video
http://wsdotblog.blogspot.com
Blogs
Blogs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oregondot/2929707460/in/photostream/
Photosharing
Proprietary Networks - Salesforce
This is the group devoted to everything snow operations.
Organizational Social Media
Professional Networkshttp://communities.firstresponder.gov
Serious Games
Interactive Web Maps
Citizen-Led Initiatives
Citizen-Led Initiatives
What Next?
Find your voice
PRACTICEOnline & offline!
Choose YourTeam
Research & Set
Goals
ChooseThe RightTools
Develop a Social Media Policy
•“Good Reading and Resources” section of http://munigov.org
•Social Media Governance: http://socialmediagovernance.com/policies.php
Engage
Share Your Ideas,
Success, and even
Failures
TestimonialsAnkeny, IA - Public Works Department(Former “Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award” recipient• Facebook and Twitter
• Winter Storm info• Emergency snow operations• Road conditions• Parking restrictions
• Communications Plan• Objectives
• Community wide awareness• Increased compliance• Reduced tows• Decreased accidents• Use of citizens as a resource
Testimonials• Strategy
• Use of social media channels to provide real time updates to optimize communications
• Outcomes• Improved communication• Broader community conversation• Citizen involvement• Improved public trust• Increased “hits” on city’s Facebook page and increased
Tweets
TestimonialsDupage County, IL – Department of Transportation• Utilizes Facebook, Twitter and Youtube daily
• Promote safety• Driving information• Plowing locations
Mundelein, IL – Public Works Department• Just started using Twitter to post real time snow operation
information• Challenged by a “social media use policy”. Their policy tries to
balance business use versus personal use.
Libertyville, IL – Public Works Department• Staff is prohibited access to social media sites
Remember, there be challenges along the way
Challenges• Lack of knowledge – Unaware of what’s available
• Lack of understanding – Knows what’s available, doesn’t know how to use or implement
• Prohibited use
• Selected users only
Challenges• Inconsistent use – Use of social media, but
sporadically. No public trust of information
• Sites not maintained or updated
• Responsiveness – Information is posted, no one responds to questions or comments posted
• Legal challenges
• Freedom of Information Act
Thank You! Questions?
Pam Broviak, PEPublic Works [email protected]: http://www.twitter.com/pbroviakLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/pbroviakSlides at: http://www.slideshare.net/publicworksgroup
Dave Lawry, PEChastain & [email protected]://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-lawry/17/157/b20