The Federation of American Scientists recently posted on its Web site a CRS report, "Social Media and Disasters: Current Uses, Future Options, and Policy Considerations,"  by Bruce R. Lindsay. The report argues that social media may be used in a "systematic" way as "an emergency management tool. Systematic usage might include:  

  In the month of August, the East Coast was hit with two natural disasters, one foreseen, Hurricane Irene, and one without notice, the August 23rd earthquake.  Though one primary form of established media failed—phone service during the earthquake was interrupted for many, if not most—both government agencies and individual citizens used social media to learn about what was happening and to communicate while each emergency progressed.

As we have seen in recent years, there has been no shortage of national emergencies - ranging from oil spills to hurricanes to the threat of a pandemic virus. In this report, Professor Handfield sets forth a framework in which governments can assess their supply chain preparedness prior to an emergency.

Disaster can strike any community at any time. It can take many forms, building over time or hitting suddenly without warning. In the last decade, whether as a result of natural or man-made disasters, the nation’s emergency-response apparatus has faced enormous challenges. Overcoming these challenges and forging a national emergency-response network for the 21st century requires innovation and teamwork.