This presentation reports on the findings of research completed in 2014 on the Tasmanian Bushfires of 2013. This case study was first introduced at AFAC in 2013, and this paper will present the much-anticipated research results. Much of what we know about the use of social media during disasters is simply anecdotal - this type of empirical research is absolutely vital. 

The author created a Facebook page, Tassie Fires - We Can Help, in response to seeing a large amount of disorganised offers of help and requests for help appearing on social media during the first 24 hours of the devastating bushfires. The page exploded and successfully managed a huge community response to the emergency - focusing on the safe management of volunteers, coordination of donations and supplies, sharing information, collaborating with the official responders, and supporting those in the bushfire affected areas. 

Recognising the outcomes and functions of this page were worthy of scientific study, three questionnaires were sent out to users of the page as part of a PhD project. A sample of almost 700 provided information around their usage of social media during the disaster. The Facebook page archives and insights were also analysed in order to establish how it was functioning for the first 35 weeks post-fires. 

This presentation will focus on a number of key learnings from this research:

- How social media was being used - the good, the bad and the ugly

- The key guidelines for how to successfully run a page: discussing issues around communication, accessibility and reach

- Why all agencies should be in this space

- How to get into this space: and how easy it is

This presentation will be presenting research that is also being presented at the World Conference on Disaster Management in Toronto in June 2014.