The Department of Homeland Security

Social Media
Emergency Management
Guidance Tool

Social Media Emergency Management Guidance Tool - Beta Phase
This Tool is designed to support public information officers, emergency managers, and other individuals supporting crisis communications in developing planning materials for the use of social media in emergency management operations.
The lines of questioning populate customizable templates, which users can download upon completion. The SMEM Guidance Tools are each estimated to take between 30 minutes and one hour to complete. Responses will be saved for 14 days, after which data will no longer be stored for security purposes. Personally identifiable information (PII) is not stored or processed.
Building a Social Media Business Case

This easy-to-use guide is the first step towards integrating the use of social media into emergency management operations.
Building a Digital Volunteer Program

This easy-to-use guide is the first step towards developing a digital volunteer program of trained, “trusted agents” that provide digital surge support to an agency during an incident.
Resources

This page includes a collection of social media emergency management training resources, example social media policies, and other best practices and guidance to support completion of this Social Media Emergency Management Guidance Tool.
About

Learn more about the SMEM Guidance Tool for emergency managers and public information officers.