On Thursday, March 24th over 150 emergency management practitioners, including State Emergency Management Directors stopped by to participate in Social Media + Emergency Management Camp, an unconference event, hosted by the National Emergency Management Association’s Mid-Year conference and organized by the SMEM Initiative, a community of emergency management practitioners interested in promoting the use of open data and social media in emergency management. This was the first time that an emergency management event has been organized in a “barcamp” format where the attendees of the event create their own agenda for the day. It was pretty cool what they come up with!
What Happened?
The day started with a few tips on how barcamp works and how it depended upon all the participants in the room to make it successful. We were joined by Deputy Administrator Richard Serino who challenged us all to to continue their efforts to explore how social media can be used to help innovate emergency management. He was joined in the room by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate who quietly listened to the morning session as a participant. However, he did mention for us to take it easy on the tech speak!
There were several State Emergency Management Directors such as Delaware State Director, Jamie Turner and his social media lead as well as participation from the private sector such as Citibank’s Joanna Colvin, Vice President of Social Media who was interested in how to use social media for better business continuity and the VOAD community such as Carrie Housman of the the American Red Cross.
After introductions, SMEM Campers nominated sessions for discussion which were grouped into topic areas such as:
- “Policy” lead by Kim Stephens who helped participants explore policy gaps, privacy, data ownership and needed legal frameworks;
- “Getting Started/101″ where Jim Garrow and James Hamilton helped participants explore “getting started” strategies ranging from from 101 introductions to Twitter and Facebook to showcasing new tools as best practices.
- “Community Building” where Sara Estes Cohen participants discussed topics such as how to increase adoption of social media in emergency management, the use of technology volunteers and how to increase meaningful engagement.
- “Situational Awareness” where Pascal Schuback helped participants explore topics such as community information monitoring, visualization, mapping and data validation.
- Additionally, there were open topic sessions ranging on topics such as cybersecurity, SM & Health, “Running your shop,” “PIO vs. OPS” and the use of metrics in SM planning. Big thanks to Chris Thompson of Humanity Road and Jeff Phillips for moderating those sessions.
Each breakout session was moderated by SMEM Initiative volunteers and documented by a all-volunteer research team who will be helping the SMEM Initiative create a white paper to present findings and recommendations. Interestingly, the groups that held the most interest to SMEM Camp participants were the “Getting Started” sessions and the “Situational Awareness” sessions.
Jeff Phillips better known as @LosRanchosNM recorded a mid-day video blog update for SMEM Camp participants who were participating virtually. In Jeff’s home state, the National Weather Service in collaboration with New Mexico Emergency Management held a “mini-” Emergency Management Camp to share findings with SMEM Camp via Skype and to begin to build capacity within the greater southwest region for inclusion and sharing of best practices of social media in emergency management.
The morning discussions were streamed lived via U-Stream. To check out some of the presentation, click below.
Tweet-Take Aways via Monica at @CyberlandGal
@CyberlandGal blogged about the most compelling tweets she saw from SMEM Camp in her post “40 Tweet Gems from NEMA SMEM Camp” – We are reposting because its so great! Thanks Monica for compiling!
Social Media
- @saraestescohen FEMA Dep Admin Serino says “We are in the middle of an information revolution: – challenge is to bring everyone on board” #smem11
- @EmergCommNetwrk #smem 4 concepts: Listen, Establish Presence, Engage, Seek Feedback via @CherylBle @TheFireTracker2 #smem11
- @TheFireTracker2 #smem11 Social Media can also take pressure off finite internal IT resources for State/Local Govt by pushing info out onto public platforms
- @dlblack #smem11 @LosRanchosEM: build lists of local, state EMs and public entities & get them connected on socmed before crisis #nema11
- @TheFireTracker2 And if UR not engaged and trusted prior, results may be negative:: RT @kgfreeman: Public will put the info out there no matter what #smem11
- @Disaster_Guy Dawn raises very good point that ppl may call family or send them SM msg rather than 911 if they feel death may be imminent. #smem11
Public Outreach
- @NEMA_DC #smem11 “Real time is not fast enough…” That says a lot but it also leaves us with a lot of questions! Where do we go from here?
- @CyberlandGal People expect info so fast in a crisis, need filler info & updates on when info will come 2 maintain audience #smem11
- @DisasterManSC Yes diff mediums appeal to diff audiences meet them where they are RT @kgfreeman: Do you need a formal press release anymore from EM #smem11
- @CyberlandGal You need to use all #socialmedia channels & SMS in a crisis. Nixle helps & is free #smem11
- @TheFireTracker2 Push is one-way. Social media is two-way:: RT @kgfreeman: Push v pull of info: still talking about push #smem11
- @CyberlandGal PIOs tracking media can help verify accuracy of social media reports by verifying with old media coverage #smem11
- @CyberlandGal PIOs on social media end up helping with opps when public sends them photos & asks for help #smem11
Crowd Feeding
- @CraigatFEMA #SMEM11 how we view the public (victims or survivors) is key to how we approach #SMEM Is the public a resource? If so, do we listen?
- @kgfreeman People are your broadcasters, not news outlet #smem11
- @saraestescohen lesson from tech volunteer session at #smem11 – leverage NGOs and delegate responsibility for training and sustaining volunteers #smemchat
- @TheFireTracker2 #smem11 Documented: Even if you tweet something official, users will consult their trusted network FIRST, before taking action.
- @patricecloutier community at #smem11 … use SM to provide a credible platform for the public to provide valuable info … valuable to Em #smem11
- @CyberlandGal Everyone wants 2 help in disaster whether u want them 2 or not. Assign observations 2 help with operational awareness #smem11
- @kgfreeman Public info is self correcting #smem11
- @SoutholdVOICE RT @adams: #smem11 speaker gives wise reminder: quality of content and outcome more important than # of followers. #NEMA
- @patricecloutier community at #smem11 take care of your existing audience .don’t jeopardize existing relationships for getting more followers #smem11
- @TheFireTracker2 #smem11 With quality of engagement, the follower count will come. Focus on adding VALUE. And yes you still DO need a critical mass of fllwrs
- @TheFireTracker2 #smem11 Remember you can also use promoted tweets, like the Red Cross does in disaster, to amplify your message and get above the noise flr
- @CyberlandGal You can craft your tweets similar 2 how people would Google to actually have your tweet appear high in a Google search #smem11
Adoption
- @NEMA_DC #smem11 Strong mandate from EM leadership is critical for adoption. @CraigatFEMA proved that w/ attendance 2day but S&L ldrship is key too!
- @hazmatguru RT @patricecloutier use of SM by gov’t employees @ #smem11 if you trust me 2 manage emrgncies & save lives dont block SM, trust me to use it
- @TheFireTracker2 #smem11 Average age of a twitter user is 36 (Pew). Next excuse ??
- @GeoDataPolicy Reluctance to use social media stems from: lack of awareness; the speed of the media is threatening; it’s interactive. #SMEM11
- @TheFireTracker2 Threatens ILLUSION of control. Hint: it’s happening without you NOW. Better to engage:: RT @kgfreeman: Threat #smem11
- @kgfreeman Peer pressure may help make policy makers more likely to use sm #smem11
Internal Communications
- @shayneadamski #smem11 what I learned: some local EMA’s no longer do sit reps; some just do spot reports.
- @kgfreeman Sit rep, or spot check? How useful is info after 2h? #smem11
Equity
- @fema #smem11 As with all technology, social media needs to be **accessible to everyone** cc: @NeilMcD
- @rishoffman @neilmcd discussing use of social media for accessibility. Cheaper and easier to use soc media than to retrofit existing programs. #SMEM11
Technology
- @NEMA_DC This isn’t the field of dreams, ppl aren’t going to show up just bc you built this great platform via @sradick at #smem11
- @DisasterManSC RT @afabbri: Apps for first responders? Make sure first responders are involved in development otherwise you get cool tools unused #smem11
Miscellaneous
- @LosRanchosEM I’m told that we had 314 unique tweeters on #SMEM11 todaay #booyah!
- @cwardell wow…#smem11 is out-trending Liz Taylor in DC…we’re coming for you Rebecca Black
- @TheFireTracker2 #smem11 Factoid:: Over 500,000 users in Japan were added to Twitter in first 24hrs after the quake. All seeking time sensitive INFO
What’s Next?
SMEM Initiative is currently working to create more SMEM Camps at major events in the US and Canada. Currently there is a SMEM Camp planned for the upcoming Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Conference at the end of May in San Francisco, California and a SMEM Camp has been proposed to the International Association of Emergency Managers Conference (IAEM) for mid-November in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition, Canadian Emergency Management is interested in hosting their own SMEM Camp.
Of course every Friday there is #SMEMChat at 12:30PM EST on Twitter. Find out the latest news in #SMEM – check out the archives!
A Note of Thanks
Like any event, it takes a posse of people that help create the magic . What is little known is that a core group of SMEM Initiative folks have been working almost every day on this event for months. We want to be sure to thank everyone who made this possible.
- Extra special thanks and gratitude go to Trina Sheets and Jennifer Perkins at NEMA: Many thanks to Trina Sheets, the Executive Director of NEMA, who took our request for a conference call and “Wow-ed” us with a response to our request to host a camp – around the NEMA event, she went a step further and offered a whole day! We are very grateful for your trust and support. Trina recommended we work with Jennifer Perkins who was our liaison to NEMA. She participated on all of our calls, she accommodated our needs with A/V equipment and breakout rooms. She even made sure we had coffee and brought us a surprise ice cream mid-afternoon treats for everyone! It was a delight to work with Jennifer and her crew at NEMA including Karen Cobuluis, Aletha Malone and Vicki Carothers. Many thanks to NEMA for believing in us.
- Many thanks go to the SMEM Initiative crew who put this event together. It was for the people by the people. Thanks goes to the core team who’ve been on it for months – including Jim Garrow, James Hamilton, Pascal Schuback, Chris Thompson, Eric Kant, Kim Stephens, Sara Estes Cohen, Alicia Johnson, Cheryl Bledsoe and Dawn Dawson.
- Special thanks goes to our speakers for the open plenary, especially to FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino for his kind words and for Shayne Adamski, FEMA’s Director of Digital Engagement for his participation and guidance. We are very grateful for New Mexico Emergency Management & the National Weather Service for their Skyped in presentation of EM Camp in New Mexico, Robin Blanford’s presentation from Ireland and Neil McDevitt and to Dawn Dawson for coordinating the opening plenary.
- Big hug goes out to the New Mexico Virtual Coordination Group including Erik Metal, Joanna Lane, Keli Cain, Marlita Reddy-Hjelmfelt, Stayce Smith, Joel Arnwine, Scott Clemetson, Scott Reuter, Lloyd Colston, John Owen Bulter, Brian Fields and Cheryl Bledsoe.
- Special thanks goes to the volunteer research team lead by Clarence Wardell from CNA. Many thanks go to his crew of notetakers who documented the event and will be working with the SMEM community to develop a white paper of findings and recommendations. Thanks to Lea Shanely, Yee San Su, Denise Rodriguez, Jason Fairbanks, Vivian Chu, Elliot Harkavy and Victor Udoewa.
- To all who registered on time and showed up with great ideas. Thank you for coming. We hope it was not only a great time but really productive. We hope to have notes and drafts of the white paper out in the coming weeks.
- Special thanks to Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator and all our friends at FEMA who believe as much as we do in the potential of technology and social media.
- And a special shout out from Heather Blanchard to Jeff Phillips: It’s amazing what an idea can do a year later. Thanks Jeff for all your leadership, friendship and of course the shared vision.
If you are an Emergency Management practitioner, how can you join?
SMEM Initiative is an open forum for domestic emergency management professionals. To join their community, just sign up for the email group, visit notes on the Wiki, join the contact list and of course, visit the #SMEM hashtag on twitter. That’s where the information sharing action is! This is an international community. Look for registration for the upcoming UASI SMEM Camp in early April.
More news on SMEM Camp:
- Patrice Cloutier, Ottawa Emergency Management
- Kim Stephens, iDisaster Blog
- GeoData Policy – Notes from Policy Discussion
- Decisions for Heros Blog
- Jeff Phillips – Thoughts on SMEM Camp (Video)
- SMEM Camp on Ustream
NEMA was pleased to host the SMEM Camp @ NEMA, and we’re thrilled the day went so well. The SMEM initiative crew showed tremendous energy and eagerness to make the event successful, and we hope all attendees took full advantage of the breakout and plenary sessions. Thank you to camp coordinators Jeff Phillips and Heather Blanchard as well as the tech crew. Also, NEMA appreciates the assistance of the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center’s A/V crew in setting up the rooms and equipment. The work involved was hard but well worth the effort.