This interesting infographic comes from the University of San Francisco and looks at the changing roles of social media and disaster response. Nearly 870,000 people annually are affected by disasters each year, but social media is having a huge impact on how survivors are able to communicate with one another, as well as with authorities.
One point on the infographic even states that "during disasters, social networks often replace 911 as the go-to source for help." This has been proven most recently by Hurricane Sandy, where Twitter became an invaluable tool for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Red Cross to communicate with people in need of assistance. It's estimated that if a person reaches out on social media for help, aid will come to them in about 60 minutes.
Social Disaster Response Graphics
This Infographic Links Social Media and Disaster Response
Trend Themes
1. Social Media Disaster Response - The increasing role of social media in disaster response creates opportunities for communication and collaboration between survivors and authorities.
2. Replacement of 911 with Social Networks - As social networks become the go-to source for help during disasters, opportunities arise for companies to create innovative solutions that integrate social media and emergency response systems.
3. Faster Response Time Via Social Media - The ability for aid to come to disaster victims in about 60 minutes or less through social media signals the need for faster and more efficient response systems that can be integrated with social media platforms.
Industry Implications
1. Emergency Response and Management - The emergency response and management industry can innovate by integrating social media and communication technologies to improve response time and collaboration during disasters.
2. Social Media Platforms - Social media companies can capitalize on their platforms' role in disaster communication by developing features that streamline aid requests, enable outreach to authorities, and provide real-time information and updates.
3. Communications Technology - The integration of communications technology and social media presents an opportunity for the communications technology industry to develop innovative solutions that optimize the use of social media in disaster response and management.