Twitter SOS (Survivors Organised Socially).

We have all heard how Twitter connects celebrities to fans, friends to other friends, and family members to each other. Twitter has been a powerful tool in keeping people connected to each other about our day-to-day lives. However, what we have not yet factored in is how Twitter use can save lives.

One of the biggest Earthquakes in 200 years hit Haiti in 2010, causing widespread chaos and destruction. When the earthquake hit the tiny island those with access to mobile devices and a Twitter account were able to tweet about the event, causing the social-media-giant to become “a key tool for distributing images and information from Haiti” (Paul 2010). Twitter allowed the people of Haiti to communicate with, alert, and keep family and friends informed of their safety. One social media commentator in Haiti was even able to inform the entire public that the phone lines were working and that they should call their families (Paul 2010). During, and up to two weeks after the disaster, people on social media sites such as Twitter were able to share information, donate money to those affected by the earthquake and offer additional support (Kiem 2011, p.101).

 












I know personally that if I were stuck in a natural disaster and the phone lines were not working that I would use Twitter to alert my friends and family to what was happening and that I was safe. It is a quick and easy way for me to allow people insight into what was happening without panicking them.

Because Twitter is well organised, accurate and concentrated, it allows official–to-public information type broadcasts to be sent out quickly and efficiently, reaching all effected individuals quicker than traditional media (Kiem 2011, p.101).

Twitter provides the public with the immediate information required to access and locate emergency relief. It can aid the public by making people aware of the number of injured people, the locations and capacities of local and regional medical facilities, and other important needs in emergency response management (Kiem 2011, p.101). The extensive use of Twitter during the 2010 Haiti earthquake shows that tweeting the characteristics of catastrophic events, such as weather changes, locations to avoid, and what areas are inaccessible, can potentially save lives during disasters.

References

Kiem, M. 2011, ‘Emergent use of Social Media: A New Age of Opportunity for Disaster Resilience’, Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, vol. 26, no.S1, p.101. 

NDCLEYE5 2012, ‘Haiti-earthquake-2010-1-15-14-46-37.jpg’ [Image] accessed 4 December 2013,

< http://ndcleye5.wikispaces.com/file/detail/haiti-earthquake-2010-1-15-14-46-37.jpg/370502776>. 

Paul, I. 2010, ‘Tech Tools Tell the Story of Earthquake in Haiti’, PCWorld website, accessed 4 December 2013, <http://www.pcworld.com/article/186805/twitter_skype_haiti_earthquake.html>.