Facebook Usage During a Flood : a Content Analysis of Two Local Governments’ Facebook Pages

During a disaster it is vital that government agencies provide timely and accurate information to the public. Lately, social media such as Facebook have become important channels for crisis communication. The purpose of this study is to identify the types of usage and topics in which users of a local governments’ Facebook page engage, during a flood. A content analysis was carried out on two local governments’ Facebook pages during two floods in 2013; The Bundaberg Regional Council’s (BRC) and the City of Calgary’s (CC). The results show that Facebook is an important channel for spreading information. Users’ engagement is especially high in real-time operational information concerning road or school closures and drinking water. Also, the coordination of relief efforts such as volunteering raises a lot of interest. Important usage types and topics to communicate through a local government’s Facebook page are proposed