Creating Virtual Teams to Monitor Crisis is a presentation about establishing virtual teams to support emergency management organizations during incidents and disasters. The presentation discusses how social media has changed emergency response by providing rapid information sharing. It defines different types of virtual teams like VOSTs and describes their benefits like access to varied skills. The presentation outlines the process for activating a VOST team and gives examples of mission types. It also provides guidance on preparing an emergency management entity and recruiting and training virtual team members.

1. Creating Virtual Teams
to Monitor Crisis
Cheryl Bledsoe
Executive Director
www.VirtualEMA.org
@VirtualEMA | @CherylBle

2. 23 years in Government
9-1-1 Technology Manager
Virtual EMA Director
Emergency Manager
#SMEM
#VOST
@VirtualEMA
C
My Experience

3. Course Objectives
•Case Study
•Why Virtual Teams
•Types of Virtual
Teams
•How to Create
Virtual Teams
•Future Impact
@VirtualEMA

4. VOST in the News
@VirtualEMA

5. Social Media Changes
Emergency Response
• Provides the ability for
information to be shared
rapidly
• Increases the amount of
visual data that is available
from people “on the
scene”
• Offers Emergency
Response Organizations
access to a Haystack of
information
@VirtualEMA

6. Defining Virtual Teams
• Humanitarian Organizations
• Red Cross | Humanity Road
• Technical Groups
• Crisis Mappers | GWOB
• Virtual Operation Support Teams
• Team of “Trusted agents,”
organized and directed by EM
Response Organizations
• Incident Management Teams
• Incident PIO’s
• Emergency Operations Centers
• VOST teams are given social
media and web-based missions
to manage
@VirtualEMA

7. Benefits of a Virtual Team
• Ability to Focus on Web
• Variety of Skills &
Abilities Available, based
on networks of
participants
• Ability to See Trends &
Issues
• Provides a Filter for EM
Response Agencies
@VirtualEMA

8. Types of Virtual Team Missions
Wildfire:
Slower Evolving Missions
Develop Incident Presence
Disseminate & Amplify
Often in Rural Communities
Dynamic Incidents:
(Tornadoes / Severe Weather)
Find unaddressed concerns
Gather Damage Assessment
Law Enforcement:
Intelligence / Monitoring
Training / Exercise:
Practice, Practice, Practice
@VirtualEMA

9. Step 1: EM Organization
activates VOST team leader,
(or VOST decides to self-deploy
if pre-arranged with criteria)
Step 2: VOST Team Lead
activates local and
nonlocal team members
VOST Activation
@VirtualEMA

10. Disaster
occurs/event
selected
Decision to activate.
Activated by EOC or
self activated to
ensure data is
collated ASAP
Set tasks, priorities,
schedule,
tools/platforms
VOST
expands/contracts
according to Incident
command principles
Deactivation,
discussion,
documentation,
AAR
Exercises between
activations to stay
current on tools
& platforms
VOST Instance Cycle
@VirtualEMA

11. Tasked
• Information finding
• Spot Trends
• Information dissemination
Autonomous
• Monitoring public voice
• Amplifying official message
• Monitor
• Curate
• Amplify
@VirtualEMA
How can VOST assist EM Agencies?

12. Emergency Managers (from other areas), Public Information Officers, Intel
Analysts, High-Tech Staff, Social Media Savvy Supporters, Students and
Volunteers from diverse backgrounds!
@VirtualEMA
Who Makes Up a VOST Team?

13. • United
States
• New
Zealand
• Canada
• Europe
@VirtualEMA
Where Are Virtual Teams Currently?

14. Preparing a Virtual Team
Emergency Management Entity
• Understand the Need
• Become Familiar with Social Media
• Identify Types of Missions
• Achieve Agency Buy-In
• Recruit Team Members
• Establish Protocols
• Train/Exercise
@VirtualEMA

15. End of Presentation
Contact Information:
Cheryl Bledsoe (@cherylble)
Email: cbledsoe@virtualema.org
Website: www.VirtualEMA.org
Phone: 503-250-4882 (cell/text)
Contact Information
@VirtualEMA

16. QUESTIONS?
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