When disaster strikes, Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy takes command of her county’s emergency communication channels, including a text service and Facebook page.
Discover incredible Insider Deals that will make your life a little bit easier— a weekly dispatch about the people, places and policies defining Texas, produced by Texas Tribune journalists living in communities across the state.LIVINGSTON — In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, Marilyn Mayville wasn’t sure where to get help.
Communication is key for keeping residents safe during a disaster. Rural communities, especially in East Texas, start from a deficit. Much of the region lacks quality broadband and cellphone access making it difficult for residents to track developments from news organizations online., a professor of epidemiology at the University of Delaware and former associate professor at Texas A&M, that rural residents say they feel uninformed during and after disasters.
Regular posts with information ranging from weather alerts to opportunities for assistance litter the emergency management Facebook page in a bid to keep residents safe, but also help them rebuild. Furthermore, cellular service – which is reportedly better than broadband through the region – is still unreliable, especially in the unincorporated communities between established towns.
She has found that her methods of communication have established some trust not just among her constituents, but of those in surrounding communities. After each disaster, she sees an uptick in subscriptions to the county’s text service and followers on social media.
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