The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) today announced an online hub for collaborative information-sharing through Facebook for the response and recovery to severe weather and flooding in Tennessee.

The webpage, www.facebook.com/TNDisasterInfo hosts an online community where those affected by the disaster and those active in the response can share information. 

FEMA and TEMA, as well as their federal, state, and local and voluntary agency partners are posting recovery tips and updates, including shelter locations and details on how to access disaster assistance. FEMA and TEMA will also upload videos and photos from the affected area.

"It takes the entire community working together to recover from a disaster like the flooding in Tennessee, and this joint effort will provide one more avenue for Tennesseans to find and share information about the ongoing response," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.

 "Facebook allows us to reach disaster survivors with information to help guide them through the recovery process while providing a platform for everyone in the community to share important information as we work together to rebuild."

"TEMA continues to recognize avenues for social media. In the days after the flooding, TEMA used Twitter to send critical information to a wider audience and this is another resource to do that," said TEMA Director James Bassham. "More than 30,000 people have visited our Web site in the past 10 days, so we know the need to find this information is very strong."

 

Participants in the online community are invited to share stories, tips and links that may help those affected by the disaster. They can also seek information on assistance in their area. Widgets are also available to carry disaster information to the public. This predesigned tool includes direct links to information such as how to apply for assistance.

 

FEMA is also providing links to disaster resources and informational through Twitter. Follow the response and recovery at www.twitter.com/FEMARegion4. Smartphone users wanting to access critical information regarding what to do before and after a disaster can now use FEMA's new mobile Web site, m.fema.gov.

 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government Web sites, companies or applications.