Investment in The Coconut Industry by Nancy Cheruiyot
Joplin Chamber of Commerce - Disaster Communication
1.
2. • Communications Director at Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
• 17+ years of experience in marketing and communications
• Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Ottawa
University, double major in Marketing and Theatre.
• Responsible for all marketing decisions, media and public
relations, governmental affairs, webmistress duties, editing,
writing and all creative design for area’s largest chamber of
commerce, serving over 1,000 business members.
• Manage social media for chamber and several other affiliated
organizations.
• Regularly offer social media sessions and seminars to chamber
members and others teaching the importance of social media as
a part of small business marketing plans.
Kirstie Smith
Communications Director
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
ksmith@joplincc.com | 417‐624‐4150 | 417.438.1738 (c)
7. KZRG – News Talk Radio 6:45 p.m.
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce 6:52 p.m.
Joplin Tornado Info 7:36 p.m.
Joplin MO Tornado Recovery 8:01 p.m.
City of Joplin 11:26 p.m.
• The first post made by the Chamber was hoping for safety of
all.
• At 8:14 pm, we posted critical information that was verified
and continued posting into the night.
• Monday morning we had no electricity in our office and no
access to our computer data.
• Network lines were down and remained down until Thursday!
Social Media: The only reliable outlet
9. April Facebook Statistics
955 “Likes”
8,824 post views
80 post feedback
May Facebook Statistics
1627 “Likes”
116,170 post views
819 post feedback
Thanks to COW’s (Cellular on Wheels)
and local cell phone providers and repair
services, Joplin stayed connected.
Look Who’s Talking
10. Important Lessons learned:
• Verify. Verify. Verify.
• Assign task to staff person if possible or trusted volunteer
• Use established page to share information
• Set the tone early for your communications, confirms your
credibility
40. Mayor Mike Woolston
May 24, 2011
Anderson Cooper 360
Interview on CNN
“This is just not the type of community that is going to let a
little F‐4 tornado kick our a**, so we will rebuild and we will recover.”