Natural disasters are nothing new, but social media and smartphones have made it possible for people to contact loved ones to ensure they are safe after a disaster. In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan in 2011, and more recently following h=Hurricane Sandy in the USA this past fall, people turned to technology for assurance. After the disaster has occurred and forgotten by the news, social media keeps the event fresh in people’s minds. Facebook has a page on their website named “Using Social Media Before, During, and After a Natural Disaster.” This page gives detailed instructions on how to properly use Facebook to get in touch with people and also provides links to other Facebook pages such as the Red Cross and FEMA as well as a Red Cross’ “Safe and Well.” Safe and Well allows people in the disaster area to register themselves and they then can be searched for by loved ones; although both parties must be register, it is another way to connect people with people when traditional methods are not always reliable.
Another type of social networking site whose most well-known use are various sites that were created after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan 2011 for the sole purpose of returning lost property to the rightful owners. If people came across items they could upload a picture and a description of the item and people could search the sites for their property.
A limiting factor to having the ability to connect with people during and immediately following the disaster is being able to power one’s phone, although after Hurricane Sandy in New York City people who had power allowed other to charge their phones. From personal experience, I was able to contact with family living in the New York Tri- State area through social media during and after Sandy, a feat which was nearly unthinkable nearly ten years ago.
- American Red Cross. Safe and well. http://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms//(accessed 15 February 2013).
- Global Disaster Relief on Facebook. Using social media before, during, and after a natural disaster. http://www.facebook.com/notes/global-disaster-relief-on-facebook/using-social-media-before-during-and-after-a-natural-disaster/10150290416059936 (accessed 15 February 2013).
- Strigaro, K. Social media and natural disasters. http://icma.org/en/icma/knowledge_network/blogs/blogpost/910/Social_Media_and_Natural_Disasters (accessed 15 February 2013).
- Yeomans, M. Social media’s crucial role in disaster relief efforts. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/social-media-hurricane-sandy-emergency-planners (accessed15 February 2013).