Citation

McCormick S. Disasters 2015; 40(2): 207-225.

Affiliation

Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/disa.12141

PMID

26281801

Abstract

This paper focuses on the role of the formal response community's use of social media and crowdsourcing for emergency managers (EMs) in disaster planning, response and recovery in the United States. In-depth qualitative interviews with EMs on the Eastern seaboard at the local, state and federal level demonstrate that emergency management tools are in a state of transition-from formal, internally regulated tools for crisis response to an incorporation of new social media and crowdsourcing tools. The first set of findings provides insight into why many EMs are not using social media, and describes their concerns that result in fear, uncertainty and doubt. Second, this research demonstrates how internal functioning and staffing issues within these agencies present challenges. This research seeks to examine the dynamics of this transition and offer lessons for how to improve its outcomes-critical to millions of people across the United States.

Language: en