TWITTER HASHTAGS + SOCIAL MEDIA USE IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT + RECOVERY

Share this post

As social media becomes ingrained into society, emergency managers should capitalize on the boundless information available from these interactive platforms. Social media allows emergency managers to respond accordingly and communicate during crisis by providing user-generated content regarding ideologies, location-specific observations, and first-hand experiences. Due to its reach, frequency, usability, and immediacy, social media can be utilized as an emergency management and crisis communication tool and reveal real-time public perceptions of a company at any given time.

Twitter, the 140-character real-time social communication site, was developed in 2006 and has rapidly gained users since its inception. According to eBiz (as of August 8, 2013), Twitter is ranked 2nd among the “15 Most Popular Networking Sites”. Because of its instantaneous updates and popularity, emergency managers can utilize information for a variety of response activities. It can provide messages inclusive of web links, pictures, audio and video content.

As discussed in the TRP blog entitled “Emergency Management Planning and Social Media” companies should develop processes for monitoring and evaluating social media during an incident in order to collect accurate, real-time intelligence, as well as to obtain a basic consensus of public opinion. The disciplines of social media and emergency management need to interface before an incident happens, not during the emergency response itself. The Twitter hashtag tool, #, allows readers to connect to conversations regarding specific topics or incidents. Utilizing the hashtag tool allows for concentrated, situational communications and can bring specific topics into focus for emergency management and recovery.

Hashtag Guidelines for Emergency Managers

According to Twitter, hashtags are used to categorize Tweets via keywords. Twitter guidelines regarding hashtag usage is as follows:

  • Use the hashtag symbol # before a relevant keyword or phrase (no spaces) to categorize those Tweets
  • Hash tagging assists in Twitter searches (ex: #wildfire)
  • Clicking on a hashtagged word in any message shows all other Tweets marked with that keyword
  • Hashtags can occur anywhere in the Tweet – at the beginning, middle, or end
  • Hashtagged words that become very popular are often Trending Topics

When a specific hashtag is selected, Twitter displays results for all posts utilizing the same hashtag. However, it is important to consider that hashtags key terms may not be consistent. For example, when searching for information related to the August Tuolumne County, California wildfires, hashtags included a variety of combinations: #yosemite, #Cafire, #RimFire, #Tuolumne. It is important to utilize a multiple variations of an incident when searching for information on Twitter.

Common Emergency Management Hashtags

A series of emergency management hashtags were identified in Social Media 4 Emergency Managers’ blog, “Active Hashtags”. The list below includes many of those identified in the “Active Hashtag” blog, as well as other that have since been utilized.

General Hashtags

  • #preparedness - General term for all topics under the preparedness umbrella
  • #incidentmanagement - Topics relating to managing an incident from activation to recovery
  • #SMEM - Social Media and Emergency Management
  • #VOST - Virtual Operations Support Teams
  • #EM - Emergency Management
  • #Incident - An occurring event. More specific information may be gathered by utilizing a more detailed hashtag
  • #Crisis - Crisis management
  • #businesscontinuity - Business Continuity information
  • #HSEM = Homeland Security Emergency Management
  • #businesscontinuity - Information relating to business continuity
  • #SM - Social Media
  • #Hazmat - Topics involved with hazardous material
  • #WX - Weather-Specific Tweets (for state-specific, these will be preceded by state initials such as #NYWX, #TXWX)
  • #2BeeRdy - Grassroots non-profit movement of Social Media volunteers who've come together to spread the emergency preparedness message
  • #Regulations - Topics associated with local, state, or federal regulations
  • #disasterrecovery - General term for all topics related to disaster recovery
  • #emergencyplanning - Topics related to emergency planning

Government Hashtags Sampling

  • #FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Administration
  • #RCRA - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
  • #NFPA - National Fire Protection Association
  • #EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
  • #OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • #NPM13 - National Preparedness Month 2013
  • #PHMSA_DOT - Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration

Conference and Association Hashtags

  • #NEMA - National Emergency Management Association
  • #IAEM - International Association of Emergency Management
  • #UASI - Urban Area Security Initiative
  • #VSMWG - Virtual Social Media Working Group (w/ DHS Science and Technology Directorate)
  • #IAEMETC - IAEM Emerging Tech Committee
  • #NG911 - Next generation 911 initiative
  • #Cleangulf – Clean Gulf Conference
  • #VPPPA - The Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association, Inc, is a nonprofit association of cooperative safety and health management systems.

Get in Touch

By completing the above form you have read, understood and accept our Privacy terms as well as our Cookie terms. Read our Privacy Policy.

Jensen Hughes ensures non-discrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the Jensen Hughes Compliance Team at 410-737-8677 or compliance@jensenhughes.com. 

More blog posts from Jensen Hughes


Improving Environmental, Social, and Governance Standards in Hospitals + Health Care

Apr 19, 2023

Today's business climate forces hospitals and health care organizations to face contradictory decisions. Now more than ever, they are required to save every dollar they can through cost avoidance and stewardship.

Read more
Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness in Nursing + Health Care Facilities

Apr 7, 2023

This year marks the 20th anniversary of two particularly devastating nursing home fires that occurred in Hartford, Connecticut, and Nashville, Tennessee, claiming the lives of 31 people.

Read more
The Importance of Performing and Managing Facility Inspections, Testing + Maintenance

Mar 23, 2023

Today’s buildings are part of a modern trend of larger structures. These larger structures not only require more advanced fire protection systems but also a more considered approach towards ensuring life safety for the occupants

Read more