Virtual Operations Support Teams - The Basics Social media and social networking are rapidly growing forms of communication and social media is becoming an integral part of disaster response. It's shaping how crises are communicated and responses are coordinated and Emergency Managers need to consider the ongoing resource implications of engaging in social media. Emergency Managers need to ensure that staff receive appropriate training in both the use of the social media tools and policies associated with their use. Emergency Managers will also have to make sure staff have enough time to validate social media content, push quality and timely information, monitor, moderate, respond to comments, archive and communicate actionable intelligence to decision makers. What resources does your agency have to commit to the effort? An innovative solution regarding these resourcing challenges is the development of a Virtual Operations Support Team (VOST). Virtual Operations Support (VOS) for emergency management and disaster recovery makes use of new communication technologies and social media tools (free and paid for dependent on VOST). A team of trusted agents provide support via the internet to those on-site who may otherwise be overwhelmed by the volume of data generated during a disaster. VOS Teams (VOST) are activated to perform specific functions in support of affected organizations & jurisdictions. Each VOST has a Team Leader that reports directly to the affected organization/ jurisdiction. Additional VOSTs may be established and activated to coordinate the work and maintain an effective span of control. Disclaimer: This presentation is a conceptual description and may vary and be subject to change as per emergency management agency requirements. Presentation by Caroline Milligan ( @Caz_Milligan ) and Scott Reuter ( @sct_r )
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The Basics Concept
SMEM Landscape Social Media for Emergency ManagementEmergency
managers have started to realize the vital role social media can
play in communicating with citizens in an emergency or disaster.
Communities have higher expectations around official emergency
information being available. Public expect official use of social
media streams, and they expect emergencymanagers to monitor and
respond to requests for help over these streams as well.However,
few emergency response organizations are equipped to do this kind
of social media monitoring and communication at scale.
Virtual Operations Support Team Virtual Operations Support
(VOS) for emergency management & disaster recovery makes use of
new communication technologies & social media tools. A team of
trusted agents lend support via the internet to those on-site who
may otherwise be overwhelmed by the volume of data generated during
a disaster. VOS Teams (VOST) are activated to perform specific
functions in support of affectedorganizations & jurisdictions.
Each VOST has a Team Leader that reports directly to the affected
organization/jurisdiction.Additional VOSTs may be established and
activated to coordinate the work & maintain an effective span
of control.
What is a VOST? Trusted agents organized and directed by
Emergency Management agencies.VOST will help expand the EMs ability
to engage with the public before, during emergencies, and as part
of the recovery phase. Engaged Community Resources
How can VOST assist EM Agencies? Monitor Curate Amplify Tasked
Information finding Spot Trends Information dissemination
Autonomous Monitoring public voice Amplifying official message
VOST Instance Cycle Disaster occurs/event selected Exercises
between Decision to activate. activations to stay Activated by EOC
or self current on tools activated to ensure data & platforms
is collated ASAPDeactivation, discussion, Set tasks, priorities,
documentation, schedule, AAR tools/platforms VOST expands/contracts
according to Incident command principles Concept
VOST Activation VOST Team Lead activates local and nonlocal
team members VOST Team Leadand Agency Liaison activate team, (or
VOST decides to self-deploy if pre-arranged)Activations may vary
and be subject to change based on pre arrangements with EM
agencies.
Importance of having both local AND non-local VOST team
membersVOST local members have strong location & cultural
knowledge, yet in times of disaster, team members outside area are
often needed & called upon to assist.
Importance of having both local AND non-local VOST team
membersChoose tools and services that work across multiple
operating systems, and on mobile devices to create resilient,
flexible and scalable info sharing systems that allowvolunteers and
agencies to communicate and share information as easily as
possible.
One Emergency Many Tools Back Channel and Public Resources Back
Channel Resources Public Facing Resources collaborative website
blogtext/voice chat documents twitter facebook search filesharing
google plus curation site curation site archiving google docs maps
analytics group text video site pinterest
Collaborative tools & social media platforms are ever
changing Here are some of the platforms used by VOST.We are always
researching and testing new, innovative technological solutions in
order to deliver the very best digital support for EM
agencies.Social Networking | Micro blogging | Websites/ Blogs | SMS
| Photo/ Video Sharing | Mobile Web & Applications |
Collaborative platforms
Using additional trained resources is NOT a new idea!Amateur
Radio volunteers continue In conjunction with the Digitalto support
communication for the Operations Center, the Red Crossemergency
operations center (EOC) also announced the creation of ain the US.
Digital Volunteer Program.
How do we make it work?
VOST and the recovery phase of an emergency or natural disaster
VOST will become a critical additional resource for EM
organizations in working to verify and curate BIG data during
disasters. The concept bridgesnotions of professional, volunteer
and community to support the emergency management effort in times
of need.
Sources / Reference Material John Owen Butler - VOST at the
National Severe Weather Workshop iDisaster via Kim Stephens (Trial
by Fire) Scott Reuter (VOST) thinkdisaster.com blog Jeff Phillips
(VOST) VOSG.us
End of PresentationPresentation by Stay tuned for nextScott
Reuter - @sct_r in the series :Caroline Milligan - @mm4marketing
VOST Activation
