How did communities use social media during Tropical Cyclone Alfred and what can we learn from it to improve preparedness, communications and recovery?
Join our July Hazardous Webinar – Disaster through a social media lens to hear the latest research findings from the research team.
11.00am – 12.00pm AEST, 22 July 2025
Panel:
-
Dr Julian Marx (University of Melbourne and Natural Hazards Research Australia)
-
Mark Ryan (Local Disaster Coordinator, City of Gold Coast)
-
Sian Grimson (Emergency Management Coordinator – Gold Coast, Queensland Police Service)
-
Penny Dahl (Manager, All Hazards Crisis Capability, Department of the Premier and Cabinet)
-
Chrissie McLeod(Senior Media and Public Affairs Advisor, Queensland Police Service)
-
Nicola Moore (Natural Hazards Research Australia) - host
The disaster response project Social media in community experiences of Tropical Cyclone Alfred explored community experiences of March 2025’s Tropical Cyclone Alfred through a social media lens. The analysis of posts and discussions on X, Facebook and Instagram provide insight into the way communities experience and respond to natural hazards and subsequent emergencies, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of current community-focused emergency preparedness and response systems.
Areas covered include emergency warnings; household and business preparedness; trusted information sources; insurance and financial preparedness; extent of damage; and early recovery and clean up.
A special panel including representatives from all levels of Queensland government will follow the research findings, discussing Queensland's unique emergency communications structure and how it swung into action ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.