The use of social media for campus safety

Brittany Haupt, MEd; Naim Kapucu, PhD; Jeffrey Morgan, MA

doi:10.5055/jem.2017.0310

Authors

Brittany Haupt, MEd
Naim Kapucu, PhD
Jeffrey Morgan, MA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2017.0310

Keywords:

public safety communication, social media, campus safety, disaster resilience

Abstract

As public safety communication evolved, each disaster or emergency presented unique challenges for emergency managers and others response to disasters. Yet, a foundational focus is the timely dissemination of accurate information to keep communities informed and able to prepare, mitigate, respond, and recover. For the campus community, the increase in bomb threats, active shooter incidents, and geographic-based natural disasters call for the discovery of reliable and cost-effective solutions for emergency information management. Social media is becoming a critical asset in this endeavor. This article examines the evolution of public safety communication, the unique setting of the campus community, and social media's role in campus disaster resilience. In addition, an exploratory study was done to better understand the perception of social media use for public safety within the campus community. The findings provide practical recommendations for campus emergency management professions; however, future research is needed to provide specific, actionable ways to achieve these goals as well as understand how diverse universities utilize a variety of platforms.

Author Biographies

Brittany Haupt, MEd

Graduate Research Associate, School of Public Administration, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida

Naim Kapucu, PhD

Professor and Director, School of Public Administration, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida

Jeffrey Morgan, MA

Director, Office of Emergency Management, Department of Security and Emergency Management, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida

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