Facebook DC Live: The Red Cross and FEMA Discuss Natural Disaster Relief

The number of Americans who turn to the Internet, social media and mobile technologies during disasters is on the rise, a new American Red Cross study shows. And while people should still rely on 9-1-1 in emergency situations, researchers found that the majority of Americans feel they should also be able to receive timely assistance from local and national response agencies when they post messages in social media.

WHAT: A Facebook Live event to announce the results of the second Red Cross survey of Americans' use of social media and other technologies during disasters. Officials from the Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Facebook will also discuss the implications of the study and how both individuals and responders can make use of the Internet, social media and mobile technology in emergency situations. Media are welcome to view the Facebook Live event and submit questions on the Facebook platform.

WHO: Trevor Riggen, Senior Director of Disaster Services, American Red Cross
Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Brooke Oberwetter, Associate Manager, Policy Communications

WHY: These two new surveys show that the vast majority of Americans believe that response organizations should be monitoring social media during disasters and acting quickly to help those in need. Emergency response organizations like the Red Cross, FEMA and others now face both new challenges to harness the power of these technologies as well as opportunities to engage with people during times of disaster.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 3:30 p.m. CDT

WHERE: http://on.fb.me/FBDCLive

RSVP: http://on.fb.me/okyVWQ

About the Speakers

William Fugate: Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Mr. Fugate was appointed by President Obama and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 13, 2009 to serve as the Administrator of FEMA. In his role, Mr. Fugate is in charge of 7,603 employees across the country working to support citizens in the event of a natural disaster. Prior to coming to FEMA, Mr. Fugate served as Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM).

Trevor Riggen: Director of Mass Care for the American Red Cross. Mr. Riggen serves as the Red Cross lead for feeding, sheltering, and bulk distribution in response to a manmade or natural disaster. A central Illinois native, he previously worked at Habitat for Humanity International, where he managed a nationwide congressional recruitment program and led local Habitat affiliates in government relations and housing advocacy development. He also has several years’ experience in local nonprofit program management, including early childhood literacy, after-school programming, and emergency planning for public school districts.

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Show Her You Care: Prepare!

Being able to contact our loved ones is something we may take for granted—and it’s only in an emergency that we realize how tenuous those connections can be. So when you call your mom this Mother’s Day, take a few minutes to make an emergency communication plan.

Make a Plan

Print out the Emergency Contact Card to help guide you. Write down your local emergency numbers and the contact information for an out-of-area emergency contact person. As often happens during disasters, it may be easier to text or call long distance since local phone lines may be overloaded or out of service.

Putting a plan in place can help families stay connected with loved ones nearby and overseas, should an emergency strike. Every year, people are separated from their relatives in an emergency, such as an earthquake, typhoon or armed conflict. Telephone, Internet and postal services are often disrupted, leaving loved ones miles or oceans apart with no way to communicate.

Tips to keep in mind in case you can’t reach a loved one during an emergency:

• Call during off-peak hours or send text messages, which can often work even if telephone lines are down.
• Check social networking profiles, such as Facebook or Twitter.
• Contact employers, schools or religious centers where loved ones might go.
• Use a free Internet-based tool, such as Safe and Well at www.redcross.org, to send or search for messages from loved ones within the U.S.
• Reach out to the U.S. State Department (1-888-407-4747) to inquire about loved ones with U.S. citizenship who are traveling or residing in another country.

Restoring Family Links

The Red Cross also offers a free service to help re-establish communication between immediate relatives separated internationally by a war or disaster, and this past year helped reconnect more than 4,200 families.

Local caseworkers work with families to find loved ones and send messages until normal communications can be restored. In places like refugee camps, such a message is often the only method of communication available, but the words “I am alive” may be all that is needed to ease the minds of distraught relatives half a world away.

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An Easy Way To Bring Your Loved Ones Peace Of Mind

After a disaster, letting your family and friends know that you are safe and well can bring your loved ones great peace of mind. The Red Cross Safe and Well secure website is an easy way to let your loved ones know you are safe. To register, visit www.redcross.org and click on the “List Yourself or Search Registrants” link under “How to Get Help”.

• People in the affected areas can list themselves as “safe and well” on the site. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search for messages from their loved ones by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address.
  
  
• Disaster victims can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well website.
  
  
• From a smart phone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for friends and family” link.From any phone call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and one of our operators can help you register.

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Cast Your Vote for the Dallas Area Chapter In Chase's Facebook Giving Challenge

Chase has launched a Facebook campaign allowing the community to help decide how $5 million in charitable dollars will be distributed.

In Round 1, 100 finalists will be awarded $25,000 each. In Round 2, the charity receiving the most votes will be awarded $1 million and the top 5 runners-up will receive $100,000 each. An Advisory Board will distribute an additional $1 million to the organizations of their choice from all that are nominated.

You helped pull the American Red Cross to the top during the Target BullsEye Facebook campaign and we need your help again! We currently have 138 votes but we need you to help us rise to the Top 100!

Cast Your Vote for the American Red Cross - Dallas Area Chapter

1. Just visit http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/

2. Log in as a Facebook member and become a fan of Chase

3. Register your vote for American Red Cross, Dallas County Chapter (Our chapter is listed as the American Red Cross, Dallas County Chapter because it reflects the information provided on our original tax exemption id from 1911. The money received will stay in our community and support services in our 12 North Texas counties.)

The voting process has already begun and will continue through December 11.

After you vote, please help us spread the word to your volunteers and friends. Tweet It, Post it to your Wall and Invite Facebook Friends to join you.

Thank you for supporting your American Red Cross - Dallas Area Chapter.

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Nine ways to support the American Red Cross through social media - Tip 7

7. Add an American Red Cross Widget to your Web site

The American Red Cross offers several widgets to raise awareness of an issues, link to additional information and raise money. Paste a widget on your blog or Facebook and see how many friends follow your lead.

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Nine ways to support the American Red Cross through social media - Tip 4

We're bringing today's tip down to one of our favorite social media outlets. Remember, to take these spread these crafty tips around using the oh so cool hashtag #SupportRedCross.

4. Blog About The American Red Cross

Write a blog about how we have affected your life. Write a blog how we affected someone else’s life. Write a blog about how you affected someone’s life. It is one of the easiest ways to spread the word. You can blog just about anywhere: Blogspot, wordpress, Facebook, etc. By blogging about the American Red Cross, you spread awareness among your network. People will read your words and hopefully be influenced to get involved too.

We're about half way there!

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Nine ways to support the American Red Cross through social media - Tip 2

We are continuing the #SupportRedCross blog from yesterday. Today is about awareness.

2. Spread the Word

If you volunteer, challenge your friends to do the same. If you give blood, encourage them to give blood as well. If you are starting the conversation, invite them to participate.

Keep following this blog for more tips tomorrow!

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Nine ways to support the American Red Cross through social media - Tip 1

Social media provides tools to connect people and initiate a conversation. It has been a great avenue for charities to spread awareness and information. But, the conversation is not one-way. You too, can get involved and make a difference through social media.

We have created a list of nine ways for you to get involved through social media – a way to make a difference. Please feel free to add comments or other ways to get involved using our favorite social tools. To kick off the tips, take this conversation to the streets (and by streets, I mean twitter) using the hashtag #SupportRedCross

So, in an effort to keep you reading (and lessen the length of this blog) we will spread out the tips over the next nine days. Are you ready?

1. Follow the American Red Cross on Social Networks

You’ll find the latest and greatest information on what’s going on at the American Red Cross. You can share links about interesting articles, blog posts, videos, photos, classes, fundraisers, emergencies or RSS feeds.

Below are the Dallas area chapter and national links:

Red Alert: Keeping Up With The Dallas Area Chapter

Red Cross Chat: American Red Cross National Office

NNational Disaster Online Newsroom

Follow the Dallas Area Chapter

Follow the American Red Cross National Office

Page

Group

Cause

Dallas Area Chapter Channel
American Red Cross National Office

Dallas Area Chapter Photostream

American Red Cross National Office Photostream

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