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

http://youtu.be/TXD-Uqx6_Wk

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

Twitter

Operations—Microblogging

http://www.facebook.com/cityofelgin

Facebook

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 Grouppwg@publicworksgroup.comTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/pbroviakLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/pbroviakSlides at: http://www.slideshare.net/publicworksgroup

Dave Lawry, PEChastain & Associatesdlawry@hlcllp.comhttp://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-lawry/17/157/b20