David Reimer
EF2
This is a topic that has been on my mind for several months now. For those who don't know I participate as a VOST member in an Integrated Warning Team in Texas. That's a fancy way of saying I funnel reports from social media to the National Weather Service and other official entities during weather events. My experience has allowed me to see reporting methods from the perspective of a chaser and from someone who is looking for reports in real time. The exchange between the NWS Amarillo and a couple of chasers back in December brought storm reporting methods into the spotlight. No worries - I'm not here to rehash that exchange. What I did see in Mississippi and Alabama today shows that we do need to have a community discussion on acceptable reporting methods.
A majority of storm chasers out there today have a social media presence. It’s never been easier to post tornado pictures or video in real-time to social media outlets. Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, Digg, and Snapchat are just a few platforms out there. The National Weather Service actively participates in an official capacity on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. For the purpose of this discussion we'll keep our platforms limited to Facebook and Twitter. Facebook is a good platform for posting weather information leading up to an event. Newsfeed algorithms make Facebook a poor choice for real time information since posts will often display in a newsfeed hours later.
Twitter, while having a 140-character limit (for now), does not have such limitations. It’s a great platform to disseminating and communicating weather events as they are occurring. I use Twitter to receive hyper-local weather reports from the public. I, in turn, pass those reports on to other members of the Integrated Warning Team (IWT). That’s my ‘job’ and hence I have the time and resources to do it most of the time. Many National Weather Service offices do not have the manpower to actively monitor social media in real-time during an event. The government shutdown a few years back along with fiscal budget cuts have resulted in many offices having unfilled staff positions. When it comes down to game-time some office simply cannot have someone sitting at a display of Twitter/Facebook to watch for reports. Busier offices may also have several tweets coming in per minute.
Social media is not an acceptable first-report platform. The traditional methods of reporting need to continue. Typical reporting methods include Spotter Network, direct phone communication with the NWS, or amateur radio. If you file your report on social media and tag the NWS office, it is not a guarantee that they'll see that report in real-time. Nor is it guaranteed that the said NWS office recognizes you as a storm chaser. It is not their job to keep a list of 'trusted chasers' on file or in memory. Obviously if you have built a relationship with your local office that is a different story and your report may be taken more seriously. Social media has also been plagued with 'fake' storm pictures that are many years old. Great caution is taken to ensure photo authenticity in relation to a current event which can further delay a report.
With all of that said - social media does have positive benefits if used correctly. Some chasers have let the NWS know in a SN/phone report that they have posted pictures on their twitter account - normally tagging that office. Some have even gone as far as to include their personal Twitter handle in online reports. All of those suggestions are good. Using social media in combination with traditional reporting methods will allow for rapid verification of any media content posted.
If you read only this: Don't assume the National Weather Service saw your Twitter report. Make sure you take the time to file a Spotter Network report or directly call the National Weather Service with your severe weather report.
A majority of storm chasers out there today have a social media presence. It’s never been easier to post tornado pictures or video in real-time to social media outlets. Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, Digg, and Snapchat are just a few platforms out there. The National Weather Service actively participates in an official capacity on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. For the purpose of this discussion we'll keep our platforms limited to Facebook and Twitter. Facebook is a good platform for posting weather information leading up to an event. Newsfeed algorithms make Facebook a poor choice for real time information since posts will often display in a newsfeed hours later.
Twitter, while having a 140-character limit (for now), does not have such limitations. It’s a great platform to disseminating and communicating weather events as they are occurring. I use Twitter to receive hyper-local weather reports from the public. I, in turn, pass those reports on to other members of the Integrated Warning Team (IWT). That’s my ‘job’ and hence I have the time and resources to do it most of the time. Many National Weather Service offices do not have the manpower to actively monitor social media in real-time during an event. The government shutdown a few years back along with fiscal budget cuts have resulted in many offices having unfilled staff positions. When it comes down to game-time some office simply cannot have someone sitting at a display of Twitter/Facebook to watch for reports. Busier offices may also have several tweets coming in per minute.
Social media is not an acceptable first-report platform. The traditional methods of reporting need to continue. Typical reporting methods include Spotter Network, direct phone communication with the NWS, or amateur radio. If you file your report on social media and tag the NWS office, it is not a guarantee that they'll see that report in real-time. Nor is it guaranteed that the said NWS office recognizes you as a storm chaser. It is not their job to keep a list of 'trusted chasers' on file or in memory. Obviously if you have built a relationship with your local office that is a different story and your report may be taken more seriously. Social media has also been plagued with 'fake' storm pictures that are many years old. Great caution is taken to ensure photo authenticity in relation to a current event which can further delay a report.
With all of that said - social media does have positive benefits if used correctly. Some chasers have let the NWS know in a SN/phone report that they have posted pictures on their twitter account - normally tagging that office. Some have even gone as far as to include their personal Twitter handle in online reports. All of those suggestions are good. Using social media in combination with traditional reporting methods will allow for rapid verification of any media content posted.
If you read only this: Don't assume the National Weather Service saw your Twitter report. Make sure you take the time to file a Spotter Network report or directly call the National Weather Service with your severe weather report.