Social Media in a Crisis: How to Get Reliable Updates, Signal Safety, and Avoid Dangerous Misinformation

During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, thousands of stranded residents used Twitter to call for rescue when 911 lines were overwhelmed. During the 2020 wildfires in California, Facebook groups coordinated evacuation carpools and shared real-time road conditions faster than any official source. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media simultaneously spread life-saving public health guidance and lethal misinformation about unproven treatments.

Social media is neither a reliable emergency broadcast system nor a cesspool of misinformation — it is both, simultaneously, and your ability to navigate that duality is a genuine preparedness skill. This guide will help you use these platforms effectively when it matters most.

1Official Accounts to Follow Before a Crisis

The single most effective thing you can do right now is follow the official emergency management accounts for your area before any disaster occurs. These accounts are verified, authoritative, and typically the first to post evacuation orders, shelter locations, road closures, and other critical information. Finding them during a crisis — when you're stressed and networks are slow — is far harder than bookmarking them today.

At the federal level, follow the National Weather Service (NWS) and your regional NWS office on X (formerly Twitter) for weather emergencies, FEMA for disaster declarations and resources, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for earthquake and volcano updates. At the state level, follow your state's emergency management agency. At the local level, follow your county's Office of Emergency Services or Emergency Management, your local police department, your local fire department, and your mayor's or county executive's official account.

Also follow your local utility companies — they often post outage maps and restoration timelines on social media faster than they update their websites. And follow local news stations' official accounts, which typically have reporters in the field providing ground-level updates that official agencies may not.

2The Best Apps for Emergency Alerts

Beyond social media platforms, several dedicated apps provide more reliable emergency notifications than any social network. FEMA's official app (free, iOS and Android) delivers real-time alerts from the National Weather Service, allows you to set up to five locations to monitor, and provides safety tips and shelter information. It works even with limited connectivity because it uses the Wireless Emergency Alert system that bypasses standard data networks.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are the text-like messages that appear on your phone during tornado warnings, AMBER Alerts, and presidential alerts. These are broadcast directly from cell towers and do not require an internet connection or a specific app — but you need to ensure they are enabled in your phone's settings. Check this now: on iPhone, go to Settings → Notifications → scroll to the bottom. On Android, go to Settings → Apps → Special app access → Wireless Emergency Alerts.

The American Red Cross offers a suite of free apps covering emergency preparedness, first aid, and specific disaster types (hurricane, tornado, wildfire). The Zello app turns your phone into a push-to-talk walkie-talkie that works over cellular data and Wi-Fi, making it valuable when voice calls are failing. During Hurricane Harvey, Zello became one of the primary coordination tools for volunteer rescuers.

3Verifying Information: Spotting Misinformation in Real Time

Misinformation spreads faster during crises than at any other time. The combination of fear, urgency, and information overload creates ideal conditions for false reports to go viral. During the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, social media incorrectly identified multiple innocent people as suspects. During Hurricane Sandy, fabricated photos of sharks swimming through flooded streets spread widely. During virtually every major disaster, false shelter locations, fake evacuation routes, and dangerous medical misinformation circulate alongside legitimate information.

Developing a quick verification habit can prevent you from acting on false information. Before sharing or acting on any emergency claim, apply these checks: Does the information come from a verified official account? Is the same information being reported by multiple independent sources? Does the post include a specific time, location, and source? Does it feel designed to provoke an emotional reaction rather than inform? If you're unsure, wait — in most cases, legitimate emergency information is quickly confirmed by multiple official sources.

Reverse image search (available through Google Images and TinEye) can quickly reveal whether a photo being shared as current is actually from a different event or location. Many viral "disaster photos" are years old or from entirely different countries. Taking 30 seconds to verify an image before sharing it can prevent the spread of panic-inducing misinformation.

4Signaling Your Safety to Family and Friends

One of the most valuable uses of social media during a disaster is letting your loved ones know you are safe — and finding out whether they are. Facebook's Safety Check feature automatically activates during major disasters and allows you to mark yourself as safe with a single tap. This notification goes to your Facebook friends, reducing the flood of individual check-in calls and texts that can overwhelm both you and the cell network.

Google's Person Finder tool (google.org/personfinder) is activated during major disasters and allows people to post information about missing persons or report their own safety status. It is particularly useful when family members are in different affected areas and cannot reach each other directly.

If you need to call for help via social media — as many did during Hurricane Harvey — be as specific as possible. Post your exact address, the number of people present, any medical needs, whether you have mobility limitations, and whether you have access to a roof. Vague posts like "I need help" are much harder for rescuers to act on than "4 adults, 1 infant, 1 wheelchair user at 1234 Main Street, water at 4 feet and rising, accessible roof."

5When Social Media and the Internet Go Down

Every social media strategy requires a backup for when the internet is unavailable. Cell networks and internet infrastructure are among the first systems to fail or become overloaded during major disasters. Your digital communication plan should always include analog fallbacks.

A battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio receives official broadcasts directly from the National Weather Service without requiring any internet connection. Keep one in your go-bag and your home. Local AM radio stations are also required by law to broadcast emergency information during declared disasters — know your local station's frequency. A battery-powered portable radio is a simple, reliable backup that costs under $30 and requires no infrastructure beyond broadcast towers.