Social network analysis: Characteristics of online social networks after a disaster

Social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, plays a critical role in disaster management by propagating emergency information to a disaster-affected community. It ranks as the fourth most popular source for accessing emergency information. Many studies have explored social media data to understand the networks and extract critical information to develop a pre- and post-disaster mitigation plan. The 2016 flood in Louisiana damaged more than 60,000 homes and was the worst U.S. disaster after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Parishes in Louisiana actively used their social media to share information with the disaster-affected community - e.g., flood inundation map, locations of emergency shelters, medical services, and debris removal operation. This study applies social network analysis to convert emergency social network data into knowledge. We explore patterns created by the aggregated interactions of online users on Facebook during disaster responses. It provides insights to understand the critical role of social media use for emergency information propagation. The study results show social networks consist of three entities: individuals, emergency agencies, and organizations. The core of a social network consists of numerous individuals. They are actively engaged to share information, communicate with the city of Baton Rouge, and update information. Emergency agencies and organizations are on the periphery of the social network, connecting a community with other communities. The results of this study will help emergency agencies develop their social media operation strategies for a disaster mitigation plan.