The Maine Public Broadcasting Network
Listen Live
Classical 24
Search
MEMA Turning to Social Media to Deliver Emergency Messages
10/07/2010 11:38 AM ET  

Maine Emergency Management Agency officials say relying only on traditional radio and TV is no longer sufficient.

Maine's Emergency Management Agency is pondering how to get emergency information through to people who are shunning traditional radio and TV in favor of the Internet.

MEMA Director Rob McAleer concedes he doesn't know much about social networking, but says his agency is working to incorporate it into emergency communication plans.

"Everybody is recognizing that to reach certain portions of the population, we've got to do things differently than we are, because that's the way they communicate," McAleer says.

McAleer says there are a lot of people who will not be reached through just traditional media, according to Capitol News Service. 

He says the agency is looking at communicating messages through twitter, texting to cell phones and other ways, to ensure that everyone in Maine is notified in the event of an emergency.




ReturnReturn!



Become a Fan of the NEW MPBNNews Facebook page. Get news, updates and unique content to share and discuss:

Recommended by our audience on Facebook:
Copyright © 2013 Maine Public Broadcasting Network. All rights reserved.