Using Social Media in Disaster Recovery: The Joplin Tornado (2011) and Branson Tornado (2012) Model

by David L. Burton, Rebecca Williams, Genevieve Williams

Learn how Joplin Tornado Info started a national revolution in the use of social media during disaster recovery. It used to be that in the event of a natural disaster, people would tune in their radios. That may still hold true, but a newer form of technology proved a fruitful means of disseminating information after an EF-5 tornado hit Joplin, Mo. in May of 2011 and an EF-2 tornado skated across Branson on Feb. 29, 2012. Both events had something in a volunteer led effort to use social media to inform members of the public connect with needed resources and to help volunteers stay out of the way. This book also includes case studies of how what was learned was applied to Branson Tornado Info, Missouri Flood Info and others.

28 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2013