Emergency 2.0 Australia
Maurits van der Vlugt works for NGIS Australia, who have been commissioned by the Taskforce to undertake a project regarding the use of social media for emergency management.
Emergency 2.0 Australia is a project examining how Social Media can assist in Emergency Management. It is about how Web 2.0 tools and technologies, emerging all around us, can help improving location enabled information sharing between Emergency Management Agencies and the affected community.
For example, how do Twitter, Facebook and Mash-ups help getting flood-warnings, information on evacuation routes etc. out to the community better and quicker? Conversely how do agencies further improve their Common Operating Picture with timely community input on roadblocks, damage reports, or stranded cattle? This story contains a more extensive example.
The project website is here to inform about the progress and outcomes of the project. But, more importantly, it is here for your input. In true Web 2 fashion, we will (and quite frankly: have to!) rely on the community to show us what is needed, what is happening, and what can be done in this area.
We therefore ask for your help. Whether you’re working in the emergency services, are a volunteer or an interested citizen, we are looking for your ideas, comments, or pointers to any leading or emerging practice examples. Throughout this site there will be opportunities to leave your thoughts online. Of course, you can always contact the team directly.
The project is supported by the Government 2.0 Taskforce, and will deliver a report on leading and emerging practices in Australia and abroad, recommendations for follow-up activities, and (with your help), a vibrant community of interest.
On behalf of the project team, I am looking forward to working with you all, and help Australian Emergency Services do an even better job for the community.
Maurits van der Vlugt, Project Lead
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I remember back during the Equine Influenza pandemic, DPI in Queensland (http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/home.htm) had good success using a simple comment + rate-this-page box on each page of their website.
It allowed the general public to add comments and updates about what was happening, what treatment methods had worked for them etc. People used it extensively and it proved to be a very valuable and useful tool.
I don’t think the comment form is available on their site any more, but here at DPC we use a similar form on our site which was inspired by the DPI one – http://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/events/brisbane-festival.aspx
Looking forward to more on this very interesting and important issue. Thanks for the chance to comment
Harmony
Harmony Steel
Web Specialist
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Brisbane, Queensland
Not sure if this is relevant but I did a thing a while back during the Avian Flu awareness process.
I think it is a little gov 2.0 in its use of video and learning components.
It is at
http://www.ret.gov.au/tourism/Documents/Prepared%20and%20Protected%20FLASH%20Content/prepare_and_protect_content.htm
That’s quite nifty Jimi.
It reminds me of another site which may also be relevant, the BBC first aid skills programme where you can learn how to respond to certain emergency situations. It uses illustrations, video and interactive quizzes – http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/first_aid/skills_programme/emergency_index.shtml