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Aside from the operational aspects, I've noticed a lot of other opportunities to reach out to people on Twitter: children and nephews and nieces and whomever going off to boot camp; prospective recruits tweeting about thinking of joining the service; random mis-conceptions; etc. I've tried to reach out to some of those folks (perhaps you've noticed). I'm surprised that the PA's monitoring don't. Talk about using the tools to develop relationships...
Anyway, I think we've come a long way... and we have a long way to go..
I think we have a long way before we get everyone including the Aux side on board the Social media bandwagon.
Excellent post! I've been staring at Twitter and Facebook for some time now trying to figure out the best way for the public to use these tools to submit Suspicious Activity Reports in support of the America's Waterway Watch program. It's the same thing with Search and Rescue Reporting (minus the obvious need for immediate action in the case of Search and Rescue), and the AMVER and New England cases are great examples.
In my particular situation, I'm concerned about a group 'spoofing' the system in an effort to conduct a mis-direction into what really is happening. There's an answer out there, we just need more minds thinking about it.
On the other hand, if there was a standard way for them to notify the CG of float plans electronically (email, twitter, etc.) so that they could be referred to as needed, I think that would be an asset. It would HAVE to be standardized though, else you have garbage in-garbage out.
are of the PA type no where near a Command Center.
1. Not for Emergency Use disclaimer.
2. Some kind of capture > forward > autoresponse keyword monitor on designated twitter broadcast sources. Look for SOS, Help, etc. patterns and send this on to a 24/7 helpdesk or other centralized cmd ctr. Also respond to the sending address that contains these keywords or patterns an alternate contact number. If it's immediate and due diligence is indicated - there's nothing more the CG can do.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure the public would admonish the CG from responsibility in every case simply because of a disclaimer. And the distressed don't always make the best decisions under duress, they tend to need all the help they can get (in many ways).
As for PAs monitoring Twitter and Facebook for potential SAR cases, I'm not sure this is the best solution. I might recommend setting up a specific Twitter, Facebook, etc. accounts specifically geared toward SAR cases, safety tips, float plans, etc. With that said, these accounts would need to be monitored 24/7. The PAs can help to craft key messages and promote the accounts as SAR-focused accounts. I think we should work on a proactive communications strategy to accomplish this - thoughts?
As for PAs "being asleep on duty," you'll be happy to know that there are PAs on duty 24/7 in every district around the country and in different areas around the world. The PAs' job never ends and the work load is enormous on any given day. If you are interested, let us know if you'd like to stand duty with us for a few days so you can see the amount of PA activity and output that occurs - there's no such thing as "sleeping on the job" as a PA. Thanks.
I would think that it would be a good idea if Sectors and Stations would start using Facebook, twitter and SMS or IM's as a way to monitor emergencies. Even more is to get the Auxiliary side involve in promoting the idea of filing your float plan via Facebook and Twitter to Sectors and Stations. I think an electronic version of a Float plan that could be used and sent to Sectors and stations would be a good way to keep sectors and stations informed as to where a boater is. Even more is having someone at the watch room or control center to monitor Twitter, Instant messages and SMS from the computer. Even have the Aux side teach people how to send an SOS via Twitter, instant messaging, Facebook and SMS.
I think that the part of "being asleep on duty" what I meant was, that, I think no one is keeping their eye's and ears open to new and emerging social media technology that is out their and that is free and easy to use and easy to get right into.
Thank you for the clarification on the "sleep" statment... However, with all that you stated there is a huge policy no-no; the Coast Guard, per policy, would rather not handle float plans and for good reason. I'll admit that while I was in SAR school last summer I thought it odd the CG didn't do such- but being in a Command Center that last year has shown me just how many float plans, worldwide, we would receive. So many in fact it would take away from other SAR duties. So in closing, I think the whold float plan idea would be a bad one.
Though I still believe that their is a generation gap in terms of Social media where the younger members are more in tune with social media vs the older members who are not and are clinging to the old fashion 20th century technology. I think one way to overcome this gap, is to try and get the older generation in tune with social media and show them if their not in it, they are going to be left behind the curve.
Coast Guard uses Facebook to locate boater; saves thousands in tax dollars
June 21 2009
Eastport, Maine – Coast Guard Sector Northern New England was searching early this morning for a possible overdue fisherman out of Cobscook Park in Eastport until a search on Facebook helped locate information which ultimately closed the case and as a result saved up to $30,000 for the taxpayers.
A park ranger at Cobscook Park reported to the Coast Guard a lone vehicle and trailer with no boat sitting in a parking lot. Using the license plate, the Coast Guard was able to locate a name, address, and phone number of the vehicle owner but there was no response at the location.
Before launching a costly search by Coast Guard aircraft and cutters and with little amplifying information, Paul Conner, the search and rescue controller at Coast Guard Sector Northern New England who was running the case, decided to use the social networking site Facebook to enhance his search means. Knowing the popularity of internet networking sites, Conner used Facebook to check for any contact information on the missing fisherman or his relatives.
“Sometimes we have to be very creative in our information gathering,” said Conner. “A simple internet search can often help us locate a missing person before a boat or aircraft is even on scene.”
Conner was ultimately able to locate an email address and contact number for one of the missing fisherman’s relatives. He sent an email to the listed address, but in the end the phone number led him to speak to the fisherman directly, who was not in any distress and moored at a different location than his trailer and vehicle.
“For over 200 years the Coast Guard has been using any means necessary to fulfill our mission,” said Captain Jim McPherson, commander at Sector Northern New England. “Now we can add social online media as another tool in our lifesaving kit.”
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/778/283370/
1. It's an emerging medium. I don't think anyone knows all facets of benefit and detriment to an organization. Like everything else, it's good to look at any tool like a double edged sword.
2. As the PA stated above - public affairs, just like all USCG operations and operation support, carry out the business of the organization. If we expect change overnight, we'll fail. If we lay change on the shoulders of one group, we'll also fail.
Investigating the highs and lows of a new approach (I wouldn't necessarily classify social media as a technological phenomenon) is everyone's task. And from my vantage point, we're taking it at the right speed.
I don't subscribe to Jay or Scott's views necessarily. But there are valid points.It's easy to get swept up and miss the real opportunities while glaring at the novelty.
http://www.slideshare.net/JayNeely/is-social-me...
http://www.scottberkun.com/blog/2009/calling-bu...
While you're at it, take a look at this explanation of stepped change models... food for thought:)
http://blog.learnlets.com/?p=1073
Hey... wait, did we just use social media to share human stuff? The rub is in how we use it, not to create convenient buckets for stuff that we'll never look at (cough CGCentral cough).
http://radar.oreilly.com/2009/07/in-defense-of-...
Both posing great arguments.
That's short hand for the CG cannot be successfully sued for failing to initiate a SAR case. The discretionary function doctrine is a well established defense theory under the Suites In Admiralty Act (SAA) and the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) and has been succeffully asserted in by the USCG in litigation in the past (see Azille v. U.S. from the U.S. District Court for the Virgin Islands in 2008 and Lewis v. U.S. from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 2002 - linke here: http://www.nicollblack.com/pdfs/casedoc-14.pdf)
No disclaimer on CG FB or Twitter sites is necessary IMHO.
But IAW w/ CG Social Media policy, a disclaimer is necessary for this post.
Please note that this post does NOT constitute legal advice NOR does it represent the views or opinions of the U.S. Coast Guard.
BT
NNNN
As others have noted, we live in a world where change is constant and can produce unexpected results. For the CG to actively maintain Twitter and Facebook accounts and not use them to make decisions like launching a SAR response is, IMHO, playing with fire. The CG might be currently immune from suit, but how will the Coast Guard's failure be judged in the Court of Public Opinion?
You overstimate the power of one annoyed "Congresscritter". The legislative process requires co-sponsors to legislation, comittee hearings and a majority of the vote in BOTH houses of Congress and then a signature by the President before legislation becomes law. If it were as easy as annoying just one MoC, the CG would've long since been inundated with multiple new mandates just over Deepwater alone. That's not to say that Congress has not responded to issues with the Deepwater project, but consider how long it has taken them and how much or how little Congress is actually doing?
Then we must also consider the rule of unintended consequences. Hypothetically, if Congress were to undue the protection of the discretionary function doctrine by legislating it away, they would unwittingly be opening up the whole of the Executive branch to various and multiple lawsuits that could be much more likely to succeed and thus cost the govt a lot more money than what is spent now in defending suits filed under the FTCA and SAA. In the grand scheme of things, I don't think that would be a desirable result and I would bet that after some careful consideration, any miffed MoC might reconsider such a drastic change in the state of the law as it relates to a recognized defense under the FTCA and SAA.
You raise a good point about the "court of public opinion". Maybe that's the more powerful impetus to spur a legislative change? But it would undoubtedly require a tragic situation with lots of media coverage to cause Congress to act. But recall the S/V Morning Dew tragedy in 1997. The CG publicly received a huge black eye over that incident. However, to my recollection, Congress did not pass any laws that were specifically intended to either penalize the CG for it's percieved failures or to assist the CG in obtaining the resources to prevent a future similar occurence. However, the widow/mother of the victims in that case did prevail in her federal lawsuit against the U.S.A and I believe after the court's decision, a settlement was reached.
So then maybe a disclaimer on the CG's FB and Twitter site would be a good thing? But only to provide the CG a defense in the "court of public opinion".
I know very well how difficult it is to pass legislation, as it is part of my job. I also know that proposed changes to the laws governing "spoofing" occurred because a certain chief of staff to a certain member of congress had his home phone number spoofed.
You are correct about the impact such a change to the SAA or FTCA would have. However, if enough people die because the CG doesn't act on a Twitter "rescue me" message, who knows what Congress might do. Given the manner in which they are printing money to "save" the economy, what's that harm of a few lawsuits?
The CG could end the problem either by not maintaining official twitter or facebook sites, or officially incorporating them into the RCC. Sitting on the fence is no solution.
No, it's not a good idea at all. Now is allowing facebook access. I don't know how many Coast Guardsmen have put up on their "status"
"Just left Key West, enroute to Florida Straits patrol. Just interdicted 3 drug runners from Colombia and migrant smugglers"....bad idea, and unfortunately not one I made up.