Social Media in Disaster Response

http://amysampleward.org Amy Sample Ward http://netsquared.org

Citizen Tech:Social Media in Disaster Response

Amy Sample Ward – February 19, 2011

Welcome

I’m Amy: a blogger, trainer, and facilitator focused on supporting organizations and local communities to use social media in strengthening networks and making lasting change. I’m also the Community Development Manager, CDI at TechSoup Global.

http://amysampleward.org | @amyrsward | amy@amysampleward.org

Transparency: I work for TechSoup Global but present from a tool agnostic position. Likewise, I invite everyone to join me in recognizing that all organizations, community groups and individuals face a different set of needs around capacity, funding, accessibility and community that impact tool choices.

http://amysampleward.org Amy Sample Ward http://netsquared.org

Agenda

• Definitions• Evolution of

social media• Examples from

Haiti & beyond• Evaluating cost

and benefit• What’s next

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Definitions: Community

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Definitions: Social Media

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Evolution of Social Media

• Direct content (for example: Wikipedia)• Indirect content (for example: mash-ups)

Driving question:What tools are on hand, what networks do we

use, and what is the most direct way to communicate when disaster strikes?

How can data be pulled together regardless of source, language, or content?

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Direct Content

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Direct Content

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Indirect Content

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Indirect Content

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Direct & Indirect: Why?

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Why do we turn to social media when in need?

Bandwidth – I can reach unlimited numbers.

Response – my network wants to respond.

Power – my contributions make an impact.

Examples from Haiti

• Mapping – Ushahidi • Fundraising & reporting – SMS• Crowdsourcing – Extraordinaries

Driving question:What tools are on hand, what networks do we use,

and what is the most direct way to communicate when disaster strikes?

How can data be pulled together regardless of source, language, or content?

http://amysampleward.org Amy Sample Ward http://netsquared.org

Examples from Haiti: Maps

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Examples from Haiti: SMS

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Examples from Haiti: Crowdsourcing

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Evaluation

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Evaluation: Costs & Benefits

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• Options• Knowledge• Language• Context

• Tons of data• Local knowledge• Real-time access• Measuring impact

What’s next?

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• Real-Time Web• Filters, Search, Translation Tools• Internet-enabled Phones vs SMS

Driving question:What tools are on hand, what networks do we use,

and what is the most direct way to communicate when disaster strikes?

How can data be pulled together regardless of source, language, or content?

Credits

http://amysampleward.org Amy Sample Ward http://netsquared.org

Images• Slide 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/comedynose/4230176889/• Slide 4: http://flickr.com/photos/efleming/237379252/• Slide 5: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanwalsh/3677282034

Sources• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Editing_frequency• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_July_2005_London_bombings• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina_disaster_relief• http://kenya.ushahidi.com/• http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/07/2678945.htm• http://haiti.ushahidi.com/• http://www.noula.ht/index.aspx• http://www.mission4636.org/• http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/world/americas/21text.html?_r=1• http://topnews.co.uk/28998-researchers-reveal-chicken-came-first-egg • http://www.emsworld.com/web/online/Top-EMS-News/Atlanta-Councilman-Chooses-Twitter

-Over-911-to-Report-Emergency/1$9546

Thanks!

I look forward to continuing the conversation with all of you:

http://amysampleward.orghttp://netsquared.orghttp://techsoupglobal.org

@amyrsward@netsquared

amy@amysampleward.org

http://amysampleward.org Amy Sample Ward http://netsquared.org