Section Head of Disaster Management Paul Martens, says that the department will be using social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook in order to get information quicker to members of the community who utilize the aforementioned sites.
Social media are media for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable communication techniques. Social media is the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue.
People gain information and news by electronic media and print media. Social media is relatively inexpensive and accessible to enable anyone to access information.
"People will be able to sign-up for our Facebook and Twitter accounts once these are active and receive information and storm news right away once this information has been drafted by the Office of Disaster Management.
"Blackberry users who use their device to access Twitter and Facebook will be able to receive storm warning and advisory information instantly.
"This new mode of communication and dissemination of official information to the community should be seen as another step in trying to provide information as quick as possible to the community.
"The department will continue to utilize the traditional media as well for the dissemination of official storm information," Section Head of Disaster Management Paul Martens told the Department of Communication (DCOMM) on Thursday.
The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1st. Various weather forecasters and agencies have in the past six weeks forecasted an active hurricane season.
The number of named storms varies between 12-18, of which six to 10 could become hurricanes; and three to six of those could become major hurricanes with over 111 miles per hour winds.
The 2011 hurricane season officially runs through November 30.