The viral tweet showed elderly women submerged in Hurricane Harvey flood water, amplifying a social media cry for help.
And the chatter about the powerful storm that struck Texas kept flowing in online. When the stranded couldn’t reach 911, they posted their addresses. Social media users shared photos of missing loved ones, fundraisers, shelter locations and even criticism.
The use of Twitter, Facebook and other sites after Hurricane Harvey highlighted the evolving yet powerful role social media sites have played in disaster response.
But with misinformation, scams and fake photos circulating online, it also illustrated some of the dangers that come with the ease of reaching the masses.
Nonetheless, experts say social networks continue to shape how people respond in emergencies.
“These technologies were not built for disaster communication. Twitter was built so you could share what you were doing and Facebook was built for people to connect to their college friends. It’s been adapted over the years, and people have used these channels in creative ways within the constraints of what they can do,” said Jeannette Sutton, an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky who studies disaster sociology.
When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, Twitter didn’t exist. Now, social media sites are more visual, allowing people to quickly rope in the public with a powerful image or video.
https://twitter.com/DividendsMGR/status/901805509950541825
On Wednesday, Twitter said there have been 21.2 million tweets about Hurricane Harvey since Friday. That’s more tweeting than the solar eclipse, each of the presidential debates, Women’s March and the inauguration.
The most retweeted tweet about Hurricane Harvey was by former President Barack Obama, who urged people to donate to the American Red Cross. About 242,000 users shared the tweet, which also had 789,714 likes as of Wednesday.
Thank you to all the first responders and people helping each other out. That's what we do as Americans. Here's one way you can help now. https://t.co/iGfE8rAoAu
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 27, 2017
Facebook has not shared data yet about the volume of Hurricane Harvey posts, but some of the site’s groups were racking up hundreds of thousands of followers.
One group, “Hurricane Harvey 2017 – Together We Will Make It; Together We Will Rebuild,” had more than 121,700 members by Wednesday.
The social media site also activated a feature called Safety Check after Hurricane Harvey so its users in that area could alert loved ones they were safe. Facebook, which is matching up to $1 million in donations like other tech firms, is urging people to donate through its website.
But some emergency response agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, cautioned users not to rely on social media as a lifeline and to call 911 or command center numbers.
To report a #harvey emergency you must call numbers below or 911 for assistance. If busy keep trying. Do not report distress on social media pic.twitter.com/2YROOVWwDk
— U.S. Coast Guard (@USCG) August 28, 2017
Cynthia Shaw, the chief communications and marketing officer of the American Red Cross’ Northern California Coastal Region, pointed to a survey that showed social media users have unrealistic expectations when they broadcast a call for help online. There are also privacy concerns that come with broadcasting your address to the public.
The organization found through a 2011 survey that more than one in five of the general public would try to contact emergency responders digitally through e-mail, websites or social media if they couldn’t reach 911. At least a third of those surveyed expected help to come in less than an hour after they requested help on social media.
But American Red Cross volunteers also are keeping a close eye on social media sites to gauge the sentiments about Hurricane Harvey and major concerns.
“What I’ve seen, whether it’s on social or TV, is there’s a high need,” Shaw said.
