This eight-hour performance-level course is designed to provide participants with knowledge and skills using social media tools to engage individuals and volunteer organizations for assistance during an emergency. Participants will learn about social media engagement techniques, individual and organizational roles in crisis communication, and Virtual Operations Support Teams (VOST).

The course will supplement and build upon NDPTC's existing FEMA-certified performance-level course entitled "Social Media Platforms in Disaster Management" (PER-304-W) by providing social media strategies for engaging the public during disaster events.

Course Modules

• Social Media Content Types and Considerations
• Strategies for Audience Engagement
• Measuring Outcomes
• Designing a Social Media Strategy for Your Agency

• Emergency Managers
• Citizen/Community Volunteer
• Government Administrative
• Fire Service
• Law Enforcement
• Emergency Medical Services
• Public Works

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Create social media messages for a given situation in the most appropriate content type including alternat text strategies
• Implement various strategies to maximize audience engagement on social media platforms
• Measure effectiveness of social media activity against specific goals
• Create a social media strategy by setting goals, completing a social media audit, improving social profiles, developing a content strategy, and evaluating the strategy

Recommended courses:

• PER-304-W Social Media for Disaster Response and Recovery - https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/elearning
• IS-42, IS-100, IS-200, IS-700

1) Participants will be required to bring their own laptop or wi-fi enabled device to the training session for the hands-on exercises.

3) Participants must have Twitter, Facebook and Instagram account prior to attending the course

2) This course conducts a pre-test, post-test, and course evaluation online. 

• Pre-test to be completed PRIOR to the course. Assists to assess familiarity with the course subject material.
• Post test to be completed at completion of course. To receive a FEMA issued Certificate of Completion, a post test score of at least 70% must be obtained.