Using the internet to communicate during a crisis
| Pages | 139-142 |
| Date | 01 April 2006 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/03055720610682933 |
| Published date | 01 April 2006 |
| Author | Theresa L. Jefferson |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING
MANAGEMENT
Using the internet to
communicate during a crisis
Theresa L. Jefferson
Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering,
George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the internet is influencing and changing
communication practices utilized during a crisis.
Design/methodology/approach – Provides an overview of communication practices during recent
disasters.
Findings – Discusses the need for disaster management responses to change in order to capitalize on
the technology.
Originality/value – This paper is a useful source of information about now the internet is
influencing and charging communication practices.
Keywords Internet, Terrorism,Communication technologies,Tsunami
Paper type General review
At the time of the September 11, 2001 attack, more than 4,000 planes en route to US
destinations were grounded or re-routed to Canada. All government offices in New
York were closed, and the evacuation of all Manhattan areas south of Canal Street was
ordered. Several airports around the country were evacuated. Washington, DC also
closed its city government buildings and a state of emergency for the city was declared.
Besides those people that were affected first hand, in Manhattan and at the Pentagon,
numerous people were stranded at airports or on grid locked roads. Communication
became a priority as individuals and organizations attempted to determine the location
of hundreds of thousands of people who were displaced, missing or dead.
The communication infrastructure of lower Manhattan suffered devastating impact.
Approximately 80 percent of the circuits used for voice and data communications were
unavailable. This encompassed over 3.5 million high capacity circuits and 300,000
telephone lines (Mehta, 2001). When all other forms of communication failed many
businesses and individuals turned to the internet. During this time “ the internet
demonstrated that it is capable of fulfilling its function as a means of communication
during a crisis” (Grey et al., 2001).
On September 11, cell phone and landline telephone communications were quickly
overwhelmed with the weight of the communication traffic. A key telephone switching
center had been destroyed, and cell and long distance networks were quickly saturate d.
Unable to place calls, many individuals utilized the text-mode messaging feature of
their cell phones. For most this was probably the first practical use of the feature.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0305-5728.htm
Internet to
communicate
during a crisis
139
VINE: The journal of information and
knowledge management systems
Vol. 36 No. 2, 2006
pp. 139-142
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0305-5728
DOI 10.1108/03055720610682933
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