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Two Out Of Three Expect Emergency Responders To Help Via Facebook, Twitter

Paresh Dave |
August 10, 2010 | 1:58 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

An American Red Cross survey detailed in the infographic to the right comes days before the organization hosts a conference with leaders from government agencies, social media companies, emergency response teams and non-profit aid agencies. 

The Emergency Social Data Summit on Thursday, Aug. 12, in Washington, D.C. will feature talks about how to improve the flow of information on the Internet during emergencies.

“The social web is creating a fundamental shift in disaster response—one that will ask emergency managers, government agencies and aid organizations to mix time-honored expertise with real-time input from the public,” said Gail McGovern, Red Cross president and CEO, in a press release. “We need to work together to better respond to that shift.”

Also from the press release:

The Red Cross survey also found that among web users, social media sites are the fourth most popular source for emergency information, just behind television news, radio and online news sites. More web users say they get their emergency information from social media than from a NOAA weather radio, government website or emergency text message system.

Neon Tommy also has the local angle covered:

L.A. Cops Using Social Media To Serve And Protect



 

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Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

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