Group: Twitter useful for disaster communication
09/02/2009 | 12:51 AM
WASHINGTON – Text messaging, Twitter and social networking Web sites could help families stay in touch in the wake of a disaster, a national safety group working with the government said Tuesday.
The Safe America Foundation announced a national campaign to train families about alternate ways of staying in touch if traditional communication methods are not working.
More than 200,000 people are expected to participate in drills of alternative emergency communication tools starting on Sept. 11 and lasting through mid-October. Some participants are individuals who pledged on the organization's Web site. Others are employees of companies such as UPS, Motorola and Office Depot that plan to hold safety drills and training sessions.
"We want people to rehearse what would you do, and what other forms of communication would you have at your disposal," said spokeswoman Carla Shaw.
She said drill participants should pre-load emergency messages to their cell phones, pre-load useful communication Web sites, and discuss how they plan to use these tools with friends and family members. - AP
The Safe America Foundation announced a national campaign to train families about alternate ways of staying in touch if traditional communication methods are not working.
More than 200,000 people are expected to participate in drills of alternative emergency communication tools starting on Sept. 11 and lasting through mid-October. Some participants are individuals who pledged on the organization's Web site. Others are employees of companies such as UPS, Motorola and Office Depot that plan to hold safety drills and training sessions.
"We want people to rehearse what would you do, and what other forms of communication would you have at your disposal," said spokeswoman Carla Shaw.
She said drill participants should pre-load emergency messages to their cell phones, pre-load useful communication Web sites, and discuss how they plan to use these tools with friends and family members. - AP
