Excerpt from Queensland Floods Inquiry interim report released today Monday 1 August 2011.
During the 2010/2011 floods, some councils and the Queensland Police Service used social media such as Twitter and Facebook to disseminate flood warnings and information about local conditions. Where it was used, social media was found to be an effective way to provide information to the community.
An independent review of the Brisbane City Council’s response to the January 2011 floods determined that Facebook and Twitter were used extensively to access information about the 2010/2011 floods.
Many of the councils that do not currently use social media to provide information to residents have indicated an intention to do so in future disaster events.
As it may be possible for the public to post information directly to an official social media site, there are concerns that a member of the public might post false information. For example, inaccurate information was published on the Western Downs Regional Council Facebook page.
The Commission acknowledges that additional staff, beyond the resources of some councils, may be needed to prevent inaccurate information being posted. However, where there are enough staff to monitor content, social media can be a useful tool to respond to rumours in the community.
For example, two employees of Goondiwindi Regional Council updated the council’s Facebook site 24 hours a day to correct rumours promptly and to provide up-to-date information to the community. The Queensland Police Service also used its Facebook site to respond to rumours; for example, a rumour about the failure of Wivenhoe Dam.
Recommendation
Councils that have not already done so should consider how social media may be used effectively to provide accurate information about flood levels and local conditions to residents during a flood event.
Source: Queensland Floods Inquiry Interim Report - Section 4
Full Report here
Queenslanders turn to Whitsundays local for disaster info
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