Social media has proven to be a valuable tool for communication during extreme weather events, as evidenced by a study conducted by Omar Pérez Figueroa, an urban and regional planning professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research focused on how Twitter was used during Hurricane María in Puerto Rico in 2017. Pérez Figueroa’s findings, published in the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, aimed to understand the reactions and behaviors of people during the disaster and to identify useful information for better preparedness in the future.
Analyzing a sample of over 2,000 tweets before the storm made landfall, Pérez Figueroa examined the timing and geographic distribution of the messages. He found that most tweets were posted prior to the hurricane’s arrival, with smaller peaks of activity occurring at later times, such as when FEMA removed disaster statistics from its website. The concentration of tweets in states with large Puerto Rican populations, including Florida, California, New York, and Texas, highlighted the importance of social media in providing information and support during such events.
Despite the collapse of the power grid in Puerto Rico, tweets from the island continued to be sent, showcasing the accessibility of Twitter even under disaster conditions. The messages fell into three main categories: providing updates on the situation in Puerto Rico, discussing the social and political factors that exacerbated the disaster, and seeking help or expressing solidarity. Social media played a crucial role in helping those affected by the hurricane to inform others about their situation, ask for assistance, and document the impact of the disaster.
Many of the tweets analyzed by Pérez Figueroa pointed to the sociopolitical causes of the disaster, blaming local and federal governments for their slow and inefficient response. This highlighted the role of social media in fostering solidarity, pressuring authorities for prompt action, and raising awareness about the needs of affected communities. The research also shed light on the importance of access to critical data during and after disasters, emphasizing how social media can enhance communities’ disaster resilience, especially in remote and communication-limited areas like Puerto Rico.
The study not only provided insights into the communication dynamics during Hurricane María but also served as a case study to refine a framework for examining disaster social media communication. Pérez Figueroa emphasized the increasing reliance on social media as a news source and the need for public health and disaster response organizations to understand how communication on these platforms can mitigate the public health burdens of disaster events. Future research areas include exploring the influence of traditional media on social media discussions, the impact of social media on emergency responders and policymakers, and how different socioeconomic groups use social media during disasters.
Overall, Pérez Figueroa’s research underscores the importance of social media in disaster communication and response efforts. By understanding how individuals use platforms like Twitter during disasters, public health and disaster response organizations can improve their preparedness and recovery strategies. As hurricanes and other extreme weather events become more frequent, leveraging social media for communication and aid can enhance community resilience and facilitate more effective disaster response efforts.
