DHS offers social media to boost preparedness

The Homeland Security Department said today it will offer a series of social media tools to encourage people to prepare for emergencies.

As part of a public awareness effort by DHS and the Advertising Council, the Ready Campaign officials announced a new Web page named “Be Prepared.” The page features an interactive widget that provides updates on emergency situations, an instructional video and news feeds via Twitter, the micro-blogging service, under the name Readydotgov, DHS said in a news release.

The department also said it will also offer an online tool that allows users to create personalized emergency plans for their families to use. Users are encouraged to submit online videos to the campaign's video blog. Officials said outreach campaign will also be conducted on social networking sites and blogs.

“These new interactive tools and resources will allow the Ready Campaign to engage even more individuals and families and help them build their emergency plans that they can then in turn share with their families,” said Erin Streeter, the campaign’s director.

DHS and the council launched the campaign in 2003 to help people prepare and respond to emergencies such as natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

The new Web page and tools are available by clicking on an online banner on www.ready.gov.