Disaster Info model, first employed in Joplin, mobilized for Rockaway Beach

(From the Disaster Info team)

In response to the December 2015 flooding Rockaway Beach, Missouri, Mayor Don Smith has requested the social media emergency management assistance of Disaster Info Team to establish a central communication and information hub related to recovery efforts in Rockaway Beach and facilitate need to resource connection during what will be a long term recovery effort for the community.

Rockaway Beach was especially hard hit during the December 2015 flood that devastated much of Missouri and prompted Governor Jay Nixon to declare a state of emergency. Rockaway Beach Mayor Don Smith invites those affected, those who can offer assistance and all media to join the effort to restore and improve Rockaway Beach as the community recovers. Join the Rockaway Beach Recovery Info community at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RockawayBeachRecoveryInfo/

Rockaway Beach, Missouri is a community of 841 people "Located on the banks of Lake Taneycomo in the heart of the Missouri Ozark Mountains, Rockaway Beach prides itself as one of the first resort towns west of the Mississippi River". Rockaway Beach located in Taney County has a population of 841.

Rockaway Beach Recovery Info utilizes the Disaster Info Model, whole community approach pioneered and developed with Joplin Tornado Info by mother/daughter team Rebecca and Genevieve Williams. The Williams documented their lessons learned and best practices for community based social media emergency management in their white paper "The Use of Social Media for Disaster Recovery" published by the University of Missouri- Extension and available online as a free PDF and via Amazon.com. The Rockaway Beach effort reunites the core Joplin Tornado Info team of Genevieve Williams, Rebecca Williams, Royce Cantrell and Joel Clark.