Social media platforms and its applications in natural disaster and crisis events – the case of Bosnia & Herzegovina

Abstract

Social media platforms are providing opportunities for people to easily engage in warning and informing others in response to natural disaster and crisis events. They are considered more effective and faster to spread among people than traditional media do, and as such make them very important for governments’ civil protection authorities to consider using social media in a framework that will help people to better prepare and response to threats. The importance of this study is that it brings attention to the case of crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina and it enriches the literature with current status and trends of effective using of SM to early prepare for and mitigate the consequences of disaster impact. This paper discusses some of the major challenges identified during the May 2014 flood in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the public use of social media that enabled the exploitation of new opportunities for facing flood threats and mitigate its effects.

Keywords: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Flood Crisis, Flood Challenges, Natural Disaster, Social Media