Cross-referencing Social Media and Public Surveillance Camera Data for Disaster Response

TL;DR

This study evaluates the usefulness of social media data during Hurricane Irma by comparing it with surveillance camera outages to assist emergency response efforts.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of social media's reliability and content during a disaster when physical surveillance systems fail.

Findings

Social media activity increased during camera outages.

Content from social media provided valuable on-the-ground information.

Social media can supplement physical surveillance in emergencies.

Abstract

Physical media (like surveillance cameras) and social media (like Instagram and Twitter) may both be useful in attaining on-the-ground information during an emergency or disaster situation. However, the intersection and reliability of both surveillance cameras and social media during a natural disaster are not fully understood. To address this gap, we tested whether social media is of utility when physical surveillance cameras went off-line during Hurricane Irma in 2017. Specifically, we collected and compared geo-tagged Instagram and Twitter posts in the state of Florida during times and in areas where public surveillance cameras went off-line. We report social media content and frequency and content to determine the utility for emergency managers or first responders during a natural disaster.