1. SOCIAL MEDIA IN DISASTER
PREPARATION, RESPONSE
AND RECOVERY
Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, January 2013
Sarah M. Kaufman
Rudin Center for Transportation
NYU Wagner School for Public Service

2. PREPARATION

3. Where transportation customers are:
On
Transit
Office/
Home
School
Out and
About
Driving

4. But mentally, they’re here:
425 1 500 15
million billion million million
users users users users

5. 77% of office workers who
have a Facebook account
access it during work hours.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135795/Study_Facebook_use_cuts_productivity_at_work

6. Why Are
Followers/Likes/Subscribers
Important?
• Engagement
• Motivation
• Amplification

7. Pre-event messaging
• Information
• Access
• Warnings
• Preparation
• Responses

8. RESPONSE

9. Mid-event messaging
Outgoing Incoming
• Instruction • Information
• Information • Emergency
• Access • Inquiries
• Emergency
Management

10. Information Sources
During Hurricane Sandy
Official websites and alerts
Social media
News websites
News TV/radio
Friends/family
Community groups
Smartphone apps
Other
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
NYU Rudin Center survey

11. Timeliness vs. Quality

12. Importance of Photos & Videos
Metropolitan Transportation Authority

13. Metropolitan Transportation Authority

15. Metropolitan Transportation Authority

19. Public Response

21. RECOVERY

22. Post-event messaging
Outgoing Incoming
• Information • Information
• Access • Emergency
• Warnings • Instruction
• Review • Inquiries

23. Data

24. Challenges
• Network/Power Interruptions
• Approvals
• Message Coordination
• Accuracy
• Resource-Intensive

25. Future of Social Media in Transportation

26. Future of Social Media in Transportation

27. FOR MORE INFORMATION
ASSOCIATED REPORTS:
www.NYURudinCenter.com
Sarah M. Kaufman, @sarstar
NYU Rudin Center for Transportation Policy &
Management, @NYURudin