Instruction: Answer the questions at the end of the case study (2-3 paragraphs per question). Include an introduction and conclusion. Provide reference and resources. Case Study: Twitter's Emerging Role in Disaster Communications An Atlanta city councilman grabbed his phone when he saw a woman having a seizure on the street. Instead of calling 911 and waiting in line, Councilman Hall tweeted, "Need paramedic on John Wesley Dobbs and Jackson St." A woman was unconscious on the ground. Please RT” Several councilman supporters called 911 after seeing his text. Paramedics rushed the woman to the hospital. Twitter, famed for its daily updates and caustic political jibes, is increasingly used in emergency response. The tool allows users to gather and share emergency and catastrophe information faster than government agencies like the Red Cross. As Hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit Texas and Florida, millions of tweets recorded flooding locations and times, growing in volume. Short communications reported on-the-ground situations and worried about missing family members. They also “retweeted” TV and state government news. Twitter tweets during natural catastrophes may give first-hand stories and real-time information about each area, frequently urging rapid rescue. A University of Colorado graduate student started Tweak the Tweet to enhance Twitter following a catastrophic Haitian catastrophe. Kate Starbird developed syntax for disaster-related tweets to help computer systems arrange and understand them (Figure 1.24). Hashtags—keywords preceded by a pound sign—were used to organize unstructured tweets about victims who needed aid. These let computers identify who participates, what is required, where the problem is, and what else is occurring. Researchers are developing methods to recognize traffic events from Twitter automatically. Twitter users report incidents, and authorities can receive real-time alerts. Figure 1.24 Tweet reformatting improves disaster response. Figure 1.24 Full ALT Text Restructured tweets demand Twitter users to know more than most and employ that knowledge under pressure. Researchers are also developing machine learning and artificial intelligence methods to analyze millions of tweets to find information on catastrophe victims and collapsed structures. One way reveals lesser occurrences like food, medicine, or rescue requirements. To identify urgent incidents, the algorithms detect terms like “person trapped” and “bridge collapse.” The Red Cross and other disaster response groups know that people increasingly use Twitter for support and information during calamities. In one study, more than a quarter of respondents claimed they would send a direct Twitter message to emergency responders, unaware that assistance groups currently need to be prepared to monitor Twitter and other platforms. They also need more ways to evaluate this information. Though timely, is it accurate? A youngster may have overstated it, or a fraudster may have done it. Aid groups will benefit from social media feedback as artificial intelligence tactics evolve to monitor and analyze tweets. Twitter's emergency response and catastrophe communications potential is intriguing despite its shortcomings. According to a survey, traditional and digital news channels posted 42% of emergency tweets. Critical eyewitness statements were 9%. According to Federal Emergency Management Center chief Craig Fugate, “Social media can empower the public to be part of the response, not as victims to be taken care of.” Discussion Questions 1-25. What are the potential benefits of Twitter and other social media for emergency and disaster communications? 1-26. What are the potential risks of using Twitter and other social media for emergency and disaster communications? 1-27. What types of education would be necessary at the user level to make Twitter and other social media more effective for emergency and disaster communications? 1-28. What would need to happen on the part of aid organizations and traditional media for Twitter and other social media to be effective in emergency and disaster communications?