Social media are becoming relied upon for information concerning large-scale weather events, crises, and other occurrences that pose potential risks. Little is known about the effectiveness of social media strategies in delivering information effectively to at-risk audiences, or the ease with which audiences can locate information. A content analysis examined a sample of 800 tweets retrieved using localized and national hashtags in the early stage of a major winter storm. Results are consistent with past research suggesting that Twitter may be used more for affective display than for information seeking. It also extends previous research by offering that actionable information appears to be more common with localized hashtags. Results are discussed in terms of implications for future research and practical applications.
Little is known about the ways in which social media, such as Twitter, function as conduits for information related to crises and emergencies. The current study analyzed the content of over 1,500 Tweets that were sent in the days leading up to the landfall of Hurricane Sandy. Time-series analyses reveal that relevant information became less prevalent as the crisis moved from the prodromal to acute phase, and information concerning specific remedial behaviors was absent. Implications for government agencies and emergency responders are discussed.
Social media have gained increased use as sources of information, including information related to risks and crises. The current study explores Twitter use in the days leading up to the landfall of Hurricane Sandy in October, 2012. It provides an overview of the type of content tweeted, along with an assessment of the utility of this content in mitigating similar emergencies in the future. Tweets were collected at multiple time points. Tweet rate increased during the storm, and specific keywords were not used extensively. Government and organizational responses were largely absent. Finally, Twitter was used more for emotional release than to provide information.
