Sharing information during catastrophes: International experiences and the portuguese case of fogos.pt

Abstract

During emergencies (floods, earthquakes, fires, etc.), access to accurate information can be decisive to ensure people’s safety. Some digital resources (websites, social networks and mobile applications) are currently geared towards this purpose. This article seeks to evaluate experiences of this nature, in countries such as Japan, Mexico, Spain, etc., through a non-probabilistic sample, a manifest and latent content analysis, and a semi-structured interview with the head of the Fogos.pt project in Portugal. The results suggest that the exchange of information during these periods varies between volunteering and contracting a service. Positive contributions from citizens often go hand in hand with misinformation campaigns aimed at misleading public opinion and creating false solidarity campaigns.