The Effect of Social Media on the Disaster Relief Effort Following the March 11 Earthquake in Japan

Tokyo, Japan (PRWEB) July 26, 2011

Beat Communication Co., Ltd., the largest provider of social networking packages in Japan, conducted a research on the use of social media before and after the March 11th Earthquake in Japan. This press release is part one of the two part report on this research.

Following natural disasters, increased communication is common, as people seek to contact family and friends in the disasters zone. The Japanese earthquake however was the first major disaster of a developed nation in the age of social media. Our research shows that social media played a critical role in the disaster relief effort following the earthquake in Japan.

The research found that though the use of mobile phones and email did predictably increase in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the use of social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and mixi (a Japanese social networking site) also increased, and in fact surpassed the use of more conventional methods of communication such as fixed phones (see Q1). Apart from the use of major public social networking services, many companies actively used their own secured corporate social networking services after the earthquake in order to confirm the safety of employees. In total, there was an overall 66-70% increase in the use of social media aftermath of the earthquake.

More specifically, after the earthquake 70% of respondents used Twitter, 38% used Facebook, 22% used U-Stream, 16% used Youtube, 16% used intra-corporate social networking sites (enterprise 2.0) or Intranet and 12% used mixi to confirm the safety of employees, friends and family, to learn more about the disaster situation (such as the damage done to modes of transportation and electrical grids) and to listen to public service announcements and press reports in lieu of television (see Q3).

The importance of social media in disaster relief is evident. 81.3% of employees responded that the use of intra-corporate social network (enterprise 2.0) & miniblogs such as twitter should be increased in the future use to act as a security backup & alert system for corporations against the future disasters.

As seen from the result, Twitter was the most widely used communication tool following the earthquake (70% of respondents). A combination of Twitter as a quick public reporting tool and secured corporate social networking site as a private communication tool would be ideal in dealing with disaster situations in the future.

The graphs reveal how the use of Social Media changed due to the Japanese Earthquake. The percentage of respondents who use Twitter in order to obtain information faster increased from 56% to 71%. The percentage of respondents who use Twitter to make up for lack of information from domestic media increased from 30% to 54%. Following the earthquake, absolutely new ways of using Twitter emerged: The percentage of respondents who use Twitter to obtain accurate information from foreign media in lieu of domestic media increased to 30%.The percentage of respondents who use of Twitter to obtain expert opinion increased to 30%.

The percentage of respondents who use Twitter to obtain disaster information on tsunamis and earthquakes increased to 30%. The percentage of respondents who use Twitter to isseminate information increased to 22%. All this reveals the uttermost importance of Twitter in disaster relief.

The Top Three reasons for using Social Media (Facebook, mixi, etc) before the earthquake was 1)To communicate with family and friends (57% of respondents replied such), 2)To get information faster (32%), and 3) to disseminate information to the people (25%). After the earthquake however To get information faster moved up 32% to 49% of respondents, to compensate for the lack of information in television and newspapers increased from 20% to 33% of respondents, to disseminate information increased from 25% to 29% of respondents, to get information from foreign media due to the lack of domestic information increased to 22%, and To ensure the safety of family and friends increased to 21%.

In conclusion to part 1 of the report, we would like to stress the importance of social media in disaster relief. Mini blogs like Twitter and private communication tools like intra-corporate social networking services (enterprise 2.0) such as Beat Office provided access to quick communication in the aftermath of the earthquake when landlines broke and cell phones went out of service. Communication is especially vital in disaster relief situations, and social media provided a new kind of relief that ultimately saved lives. There is no doubt that the earthquake changed social media in Japan forever.

When receiving responses from our surveys, some companies provided more detailed information than others. We will disclose these additional information in the next part of the report tomorrow.

At the end of this first announcement, we would like to extend our sympathies to all the families affected by the Japanese earthquake on March 11. We wish for their speedy recovery and the reconstruction of the devastated area as soon as possible.

———- Survey Summary ———————

Research: Surveys were sent to 300 of the largest companies, 100 of which replied.

Research Objectives: to find the utilization of social media during the earthquake

Search Authority: Beat Communication Co, Ltd.

Methodology: Voluntary Internet questionnaire

Study period: April 21 2011, April 14, 2011

Beat Communication

Company Name: Beat Communication Co., Ltd.

Representative: Ryo Murai

Established: January 06, 2004

Start-up Capital: 35,000,000 yen

Location: 5-8-1 Scene Akira 3F Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

URL: http://www.beat.co.jp/en

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The Effect of Social Media on the Disaster Relief Effort Following the March 11 Earthquake in Japan

Total Communications Serving Customers Without Interruption Following Massive Power Outages in Connecticut

East Hartford, CT (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

As of 11:11 am on November 1st, 94% of CL&P customers in East Hartford, Connecticut, were still without power following snow storm Alfred. But at corporate headquarters for Total Communications, Incorporated, a New England leader in business communications and IT services, the facility, network, and employees have been running without interruption. Thanks to a 150 KW hard wired electrical generator with a 900 gallon fuel tank, the building is fully powered, so Totals customer service staff, technicians and network engineers are able to respond to customer calls. They are also able to assist in re-setting equipment and restoring network settings from their sophisticated Network Operations/Monitoring center.

For customers who provide essential services, such as medical practices, their ability to continue operating is critical. By remaining in continual operation ourselves, we are able to help our customers maintain their communications, according to Richard Lennon, CEO and President of Total Communications. Our Carrier Services Group can assist with re-pointing existing carrier services to other locations with service, allowing businesses and organizations to resume making and receiving calls, he says.

Since Monday, the volume of calls customer service representatives field has doubled. Joe Gay, Vice President of Operations, says that other than the increase in volume, its business as usual at Total Communications. He does expect a further increase in calls as power is gradually restored throughout Connecticut, but notes that Total Communications is prepared.

Besides the electrical generator, Total is equipped for business continuity with redundant network operating centers and a voice-over-IP communication system that allows workers to be easily relocated from satellite offices without power to the corporate office. Since Total offers Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Planning as a service to customers, their own disaster recovery plan is built on IT industry best practices. The company offers an innovative backup solution, Total 360, a hybrid onsite/offsite approach that gives customers the ultimate in data security and availability.

We understand 70% of businesses that suffer a serious data loss are out of business within two years, comments Mr. Lennon. We are urging our customers who have not already implemented a business continuity / disaster recovery plan to make this a priority once their power is restored and their business is up and running again, he says.

In the meantime, Total Communications staff is ready to assist customers remotely and on-site, if needed. Total customers who want help re-setting their communication systems can call 800.300.0824 (select Option 1) to be connected with Telephone System/Data Network Group. Customers who need to re-establish telephone service from their carrier can call Totals Carrier Services group at 800.300.0824 (select Option 4). Customers can also request service online at http://www.totalcomm.com/total/service.html or by e-mailing service(at)totalcomm(dot)com.

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Related Disaster Recovery And Backup Services Press Releases

Total Communications Serving Customers Without Interruption Following Massive Power Outages in Connecticut

Dalworth Restoration Teams Are Prepared to Provide Storm Water Damage Restoration to Maryland Commercial Clients Following Hurricane Sandy

(PRWEB) November 01, 2012

Properties from Maryland to New York have been adversely affected by super storm Sandy, a fierce hurricane responsible for storm surges, massive flooding, power outages and all around destruction in just a few short hours. Dalworth Restoration disaster recovery and flood cleanup crews are equipped and ready to respond to the massive storm as it menacingly lashes the East Coast. Trailers with heavy-duty restoration equipment and experienced personnel are ready to restore large water damage losses, just like they did in recent hurricanes Isaac and Irene. Teams arrive in Maryland to lend commercial property cleanup and water damage restoration services to businesses that have been affected by the storm.

In severe storm situations, much like those experienced in the past couple of days due to Hurricane Sandy, Dalworth Restoration recommends that individuals listen to storm updates on the radio and TV. Individuals should board up their properties and stock up on water, medicine and non-perishable food, as well as battery operated radios and flashlights. In addition, if local authorities and emergency professionals mandate evacuation, it is best to do so. The risk of staying behind is not warranted and could result in loss of life.

A pre-storm preparedness plan for commercial enterprises includes the following:

Dalworth Restoration Teams Are Prepared to Provide Storm Water Damage Restoration to Maryland Commercial Clients Following Hurricane Sandy

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It does not matter which cable installing company or vendor you choose in your locality but all you need is to know everything about the fundamental concepts and things about your network needs. Also, the cable installation needs for your business settings should be further conveyed to the vendor of cable installing so as to receive maximum advantages. In fact, some of the basic things and data that should be in your mind before hiring the successful wiring and cable installation sacramento company.

1. Before moving your business unit to a new place, please make it ensure that the phone lines or the T1 line are already installed. Your telecommunication will provide the required assistance to you and your business. It should be also made sure that you have booked the provider much before your moving date.

2. Cable installation sacramento will also ask about the number of data and voice drops. The concept should be made clearer in order to make it rather sure that the intermediate workstation will receive both the computer and phone line. If your business needs some ports or drops for the fax machines and printers then the cable network installer should be conveyed about your needs.

3. The third important point that you must remember is the construction type of your new company office or business spot. In fact, the construction type of the business spot will sincerely affect the cable installation sacramento company strategy. The new space of your office may need installation of the plenum or it might be the non-plenum cable. One thing which also matters here is that even though you are using any of the cables in your new business space, you are needed to maintain the much important compliance code.

4.

Your cable installer may also ask about whether you want to completely remove your telephone line system to the new office space. Although it totally depends on the capability of the Cable Installation Sacramento but most of the service providers will go with your needs. It is needless to say that some subsidiary companies and service providers may also accomplish your task in the successful manner.

Clerk bob writes informative and unique articles about It Services Sacramento. One thing that separates Clerk bob from others is the passion she puts into it, knowing full well and respecting the time viewers spend on reading his work.

Take note of the following data while hiring services of cable installation sacramento