Examining the Role of Social Media and Volunteer Contributions and Coordination in Disaster Response: A Survey Study

Abstract

This research focuses on how emergency management professionals and their organizations use social media and volunteers in their operations. The project implements a survey study where data was collected through an online form by asking questions to the participants. The survey study was sent out and provided to emergency management professionals through listservs, social media groups, and word-of-mouth. The survey consists of twenty-five questions ranging from closed-ended yes or no, to select all that apply multiple choice. The survey has been pulled from four levels of emergency management organizations which are national, state, local, and educational. Each level has distinct responsibilities, reflecting their unique use of social media and volunteers. Social media in emergency management may be utilized in a variety of ways depending on why the organization is using it. Volunteers have a role in emergency management that extends an organization’s functions and capabilities in many different phases of their operations. The results provide insight into how emergency management professionals use social media and volunteers in their organizations.