ABSTRACT
While social media is becoming a familiar risk communication channel in the preparedness, response, and recovery phases of disaster management, the powerful role it plays in furthering community efforts for building long-term community resilience is less understood. This chapter examines how social media supports risk reduction activities, expands outreach and sustained engagement, and empowers the risk reduction and mitigation planning process. This chapter also explores community mitigation planning process activities, along with the social media approaches that can potentially support them. Vignettes highlight success stories from organizations and communities that have used social media to further the mitigation and risk reduction planning process; assess hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks; ensure a wider range of voices were brought to the planning table; and champion successes.
