COVOST overview for the Bureau of Reclamation Emergency Management Workshop sharing the benefits of activating a virtual operations support team and social media monitoring/listening.

2. A VOST is a team of trusted agents who lend support via the
internet to those on-site who may otherwise be overwhelmed
by the volume of data generated during a disaster.
http://www.slideshare.net/CMilliganNZVOST/vost-presentation-basics?v=default&b=&from_search=1 http://vosg.us/about/

3. VOSTs are activated to perform specific functions in support
of affected organizations and jurisdictions.
http://www.slideshare.net/CMilliganNZVOST/vost-presentation-basics?v=default&b=&from_search=1 http://vosg.us/about/

4. VOST trusted agents remain directly
connected to the affected
organization/jurisdiction through the
VOST Manager and On Scene Liaison
http://www.slideshare.net/CMilliganNZVOST/vost-presentation-
basics?v=default&b=&from_search=1 http://vosg.us/about/

5. VOST trusted agents use of new communication technologies
and social media tools to support emergency management
and disaster recovery.
http://www.slideshare.net/CMilliganNZVOST/vost-presentation-basics?v=default&b=&from_search=1 http://vosg.us/about/

6. Traditional functions of the VOST are focused on supporting the public information officers
•Primary Mission is Monitoring
•Emergency information
•Situational Awareness
•Rumor Control
•Trends
•Secondary Missions
•Development of Tools and Platforms for Official Agency Use
•Archiving Social Media and Online Posts (Agency, Media, Public etc)
•Analyzing and Reporting on Social Media and Online Statistics and Trends

7. •An alternative to an internally robust integrated social media communication plan
•A task force that you can order up to handle all of your social media needs
•An excuse for you/your agency to use when you do not want to learn social media
•Exclusively made up of volunteers
•Used just for public information needs
•Law enforcement intelligence seeking

8. •First VOST was set up by Jeff Phillips (@LosRanchosEm) – March 14, 2011
•VOSTs are now set up all across the globe

9. Shadow Lake Fire - 2011 – Report
“The attempt to employ a team of trusted volunteers is an example of socio-technical innovation in times of disaster by
the emergency management community.
“This case shows how emergency managers have begun to look within their own communities for help. They appreciate
the role of existing remote volunteers, and extend the idea by finding trusted agents who could help when information
demands during emergencies outstrip capacity to respond.
“In this examination, we learn about how a nascent team of trusted volunteers internally operates, and how the formal
response coordinates with it. Their experiences also raise questions that, given this perceived local success, need to be
addressed to make it possible to extend the idea of a trusted volunteer network in support of larger emergency
management aims.”

10. • New York
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Oregon
• Florida State
University
• Hawaii
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma
• New York
• Ohio
• Pacific Northwest
• National Weather
Service
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington

11. •New York VOST
•Hurricane Sandy
•Oklahoma VOST
•Oklahoma Tornadoes 2012-13
•Portland NIMO
•Shadow Lake Fire - 2011 – Report
•Barry Point Fire - 2012
•Washington Smoke Information - 2012
•Granite Mountain Memorial - 2013
•Carlton Complex Fire - 2014

12. Colorado VOST Highlights
• 2013: Jeffco Sheriff’s Office & Colorado
DHSEM begin a partnership.
• September 2013: COVOST activates for floods
• 2014: March COVOST
• Colorado DHSEM took over
management of the team
• Jeffco Sheriff provides background
checks
• 2016: COVOST adds volunteer training
coordinator to assist team manager.

13. •Project EPIC at University of Colorado - 2011
•Wrote Original VOST Report after the Shadow Lake Fire Activation
•JeffcoVOST
•Jefferson County Virtual Operations Support Team
•Activated in 2013 for the #CCCF (Coal Creek Canyon Flood) and overall #JeffcoFlood
•Activated in 2014 for the #RememberBaldwin Memorial Service
•Project EPIC at University of Colorado - 2013
•Published paper on how Social Media and VOST were used during the #JeffcoFlood

14. •Colorado Virtual Operations Support Team:
• 60 members strong
• Monthly virtual trainings and team meeting
•COVOST Mission: To lead and support the State of Colorado and our local Colorado communities through
the innovative use of social media and other online tools.
•The COVOST can be activated to support any local, county or state agency through WebEOC or through
EMAC.
•Learn more at: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhsem/covost OR www.COVOST.blogspot.com

15. •Build your own – The best option!
•Build your own team to meet the specific needs of your agency and community.
•Utilize the COVOST

16. •The Colorado VOST exists as an option to aid local, county and state agencies.
•To activate the COVOST you must:
•Familiarize yourself with the COVOST Handbook
•Determine who will be your On Scene VOST Liaison
•Complete the Activation Authorization Form
•Submit an official request through WebEOC
•Final authority to activate the COVOST will rest with the VOST Manager
•Your request may be turned down if it is not specific or clearly defined

17. •Start with an analysis of your existing social media program
•What are we good at? What do we need help with?
•Ask why your team would need to activate a VOST
• Amplification? Monitoring? Analyzing? Archiving?
•Once you have determined your need begin looking for potential members
•Start with your local community
•Extend out to the broader virtual community to add increased skill and team depth
•Consider adding people from other time zones or geographic regions
•Ensures the team can function through multiple operational periods

18. •Build a framework for your VOST by adopting policy and procedure documents
•Volunteer / Mutual Aid agreements - Run all paperwork by your attorney
•Membership qualifications
•Background check?
•Participation in training? 50% participation in call outs?
•Activation procedures
•Email lists, Google Documents, Slack chatroom

19. Disaster
occurs/event
selected
Decision to
activate.
Activated early
to ensure data is
collated ASAP
Set tasks,
priorities,
schedule,
tools/platforms
VOST
expands/contracts
according to
Incident command
principles
Deactivation,
discussion,
documentation,
AAR
Exercises
between
activations to
stay current on
tools & platforms
http://www.slideshare.net/CMilliganNZVOST/vost-presentation-basics?v=default&b=&from_search=1
•Build your team now!
•Train and practice!
•Activate!
•Complete After Action Reviews

20. •COVOST documents are available to be copied and adapted by anyone:
•COVOST Handbook
•COVOST Volunteer Registration Form
•COVOST Volunteer Services Agreement
•COVOST Activation Authorization Request
•COVOST WebEOC Mission Set

21. •VOST Manager accepts the mission and is in contact with the On Scene VOST Liaison
•VOST Manager sends a SLACK activation notification to team
•VOST members check in to an activation channel on Slack
•VOST members check in, indicate availability in the shared Google Spreadsheet Workbook
•VOST members complete missions and tasks virtually and remain in contact with the VOST
Manager via the Slack and google spreadsheet
•The VOST Manager and On Scene VOST Liaison remain in contact throughout the mission
•An official After Action Review is completed after the team is demobilized.

22. •You, your agency and your community will directly benefit from the activation of a VOST!
•Building and managing your own VOST is the best way to go.
•If you need help building a VOST the COVOST is ere to help!
•The COVOST is available for activation on your incident
•Please ensure your request for activation is specifically defined
•Please ensure your request comes with a VOST Liaison clearly assigned
•Please understand that we are still learning as well!
•The COVOST is looking for additional members! Consider joining today!

24. What is in it for you?
Training and experience. The COVOST trains twice a month via the Join.me virtual webinar platform. Don’t
pay big $$ for social media training, just join the COVOST!
What are you committing to?
The COVOST appreciates you and your time. We only ask that you agree with our mission, attend training,
and make an effort to set aside some time to help when we activate.
Ready to Join?
Visit https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhsem/covost