PACIFIC COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
  • Home
    • Mission
  • Divisions
    • Corrections >
      • Jail Roster
      • Bail Bonds
      • PREA
    • 911 Communications >
      • 24 Hour Log
      • Staff
    • Emergency Management >
      • Be Informed >
        • Emergency Notification System
        • Hazards
        • NOAA Weather Radio
        • Outdoor Warning System
        • Media Releases
      • Plans
      • Take Action >
        • Mitigation
        • Preparedness
        • Response
        • Recovery
    • Field Operations >
      • Missing Persons
      • Sex Offenders
    • Support Services >
      • Civil Process
      • Concealed Pistol License
      • Fingerprinting
      • Sheriff's Sales
      • Property & Evidence
      • Records Request
  • Press Releases
  • Opportunities
    • Employment
    • Pacific County NWCW
    • Volunteer
  • Contact Us

The Effects of Social Media and The Ease of Spreading (Mis) Information

1/19/2016

 
An article published Sunday by Superstation 95.com and circulated throughout Facebook & Twitter caused alarm and confusion to many coastal residents and their families throughout the country. The article claimed an ocean data buoy had detected a sudden drop in water depth off of the Oregon Coast indicating an imminent catastrophic earthquake.

The link below, employing credible and reliable sources from the National Weather Service in Seattle, dismisses the article and sheds light on the believability and reliability of Superstation 95.com.
http://koin.com/2016/01/18/nws-buoy-event-off-oregon-coast-a-non-event/

During emergency and disaster events, social media becomes a frenzy of information and tends to take on a life of its own.  A tremendous amount of great information is relayed through social media. Misinformation also has a way of entering the social media outlets and in many instances, is accepted without confirmation of the information or its source.  Misleading communications, such as the article by Superstation 95.com which went viral quickly, led many to believe the information, spreading fear, confusion and further misinformation, as it was shared and retweeted by thousands of unsuspecting users of the various social media outlets along the West Coast.

One of the best ways to help you determine whether the information you are receiving is accurate or not, is to determine where the information is being sent from – its source.
Credible and reliable emergency and disaster information can be obtained from:
  • The State of Washington Emergency Management Division,
  • The United States Geologic Survey (USGS),
  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
  • The National Weather Service (NWS),
  • Television
  • Your local AM and FM Radio Stations, and
  • From your local County Emergency Management Office.
 
A great way to become better informed about your site specific risk and hazards is to invite the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency to address your local community group. In Pacific County, you can request a date and time to address your group by emailing Scott McDougall at smcdougall@co.pacific.wa.us or by calling (360) 875 or 642-9338.

WAYS TO AVOID RUMOR AND MISINFORMATION AND HOW TO VERIFY EMERGENCY AND DISASTER REPORTING IN PACIFIC COUNTY
The Pacific County Emergency Management Agency Offers a Variety of Ways to Receive Severe Weather and Emergency and Disaster Information.
The Pacific County Emergency Management Agency posts the most up to date and verified information available through all of the outlets described below.
Please take the time to verify information before you pass it on to others.
•The quickest way to receive emergency and disaster information from Grays Harbor County Emergency Management is to follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
•Twitter at: https://twitter.com/pceocnews (only active during EOC activations) or https://twitter.com/search?q=@tsunamiscotty or https://twitter.com/search?q=@tsunamisteph
•Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/PCEMA/?ref=hl
•You can follow the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency webpage at: http://www.co.pacific.wa.us/pcema/
•We encourage all citizens sign up for the Pacific County Notification System for emergency alerts from the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency via phone, text and e-mail:
https://secure.hyper-reach.com/comsignupw.jsp?id=40685
•All Pacific County citizens are urged to obtain an All Hazard ALERT Weather Radio for immediate alerts for severe weather and disaster information.
•Remember, television usually DOES NOT broadcast the correct emergency information for your site specific location in Pacific County.
•All local AM/FM radio stations will transmit the most up to date information from the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency.
 
Thanks to Charles Wallace Deputy Director, Grays Harbor Department of Emergency Management for providing this information.
​

Comments are closed.

    Categories

    All
    All
    Communications
    Emergency Management
    Patrol & Corrections


    If you would like press releases from emergency management emailed to you, sign up here.

    If you would like to receive press release alerts via text for patrol and corrections, text 98586 to 888777

    Archives

    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    November 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009

    RSS Feed

Helpful County Departments


Community  
   Development  
Commissioner's               Office   
Juvenile Services 
N. District Court
Public Works 
Prosecutor’s Office 
S. District Court
Superior Court   
(360) 875-9356

(360) 875-9337

​(360) 875-9350

​(360) 875-9354
(360) 875-9368
​(360) 875-9361
​(360) 642-9417 
​(360) 875-9320 

Quick Links


Long Beach Police Department
Pacific County Home
​Raymond Police Department
South Bend Police Department
Washington State Patrol

Forms


Concealed Pistol License                Application
Event Security Request Form
​Property Form
Statement Form
Vehicle Theft
Picture
Copyright © 2018 | Pacific County Sheriff's Office | PO Box 27, South Bend, WA 98586 | 360-875-9395
In accordance with Federal law, Pacific County is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, sex (wages), genetics, and retaliation.  To file a complaint of discrimination or affirmative action obligations contact: the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 1-800-669-4000 (toll-free), 1-800-669-6820 (toll-free TTY number for individuals with hearing impairments), or www.eeoc.gov.