[Skywarn] Skywarn Digest, Vol 31, Issue 18 - Social Media

[The Storm Diaries]

Lloyd wrote:

> Are your helping your local jurisdiction with Social Media reports?


Not only are we aggressively using social media (Twitter, @NoxEMAWxComm; Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/nockamixonema; Blogging, http://nockamixonema.wordpress.com/) under the auspices of our local emergency management team, I'm also privately relaying tweets (via @StormDiaries) from storm chasers on the road to my network of 600+ other storm spotters & chasers, meteos, and just interested followers. I've had more than one direct message tell me I helped alert families to take cover who otherwise would not have known anything severe was on the way -- very gratifying.

The first big test of our local emergency management social media presence came during last October's freak Halloween snowstorm, when our area was without power for 10 days. We got such high marks for keeping people informed about power developments, shelters, warming stations and hot food kitchens available via Twitter, FB and our blog (since most folks were logging in the only way they could, through their cell phones) that our team was subsequently honored in a recognition ceremony at the local high school for outstanding community service. A very proud day, indeed!

Mary Shafer
Upper Bucks County, PA
--
It's hard to forecast the future until you make peace with the past.
The Storm Diaries
An Extreme Weather Mystery Series by author Mary A. Shafer
stormdiaries at wordforgebooks.com
Website: StormDiaries.com
Facebook: facebook.com/stormdiaries
Twitter: @StormDiaries
SkyWarn Spotter #LKD-001