Social media in community experiences of Tropical Cyclone Alfred

This project will explore community experiences of the recent Tropical Cyclone Alfred through a social media lens. The analysis of publicly available posts and discussions on platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram will provide insight into: 

1. Emergency warnings: how individuals and communities received and responded to warnings about the cyclone and flooding, including the effectiveness of official channels, social media platforms and other channels (including local knowledge) in disseminating this information. 

2. Household and business preparedness: how households and businesses prepared for the cyclone and flooding, identifying the types of actions taken (e.g., securing properties, evacuations). 

3. Trusted information sources: which sources of information (e.g., government agencies, news outlets, local community groups) were most trusted by community members during before, during and after Tropical Cyclone Alfred and subsequent flooding and the accuracy of these sources. 

4. Insurance and financial preparedness: analysis of public conversations around insurance coverage, including claims, gaps in coverage and financial preparedness for cyclone-related damages discussions. 

5. Extent of damage: social media post mapping of the extent of physical, economic and infrastructure damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, including user-generated images, videos and firsthand accounts. 

6. Initial recovery and clean up: how communities of all sizes and types mobilised to share resources, support each other and rebuild their lives, businesses and communities in the aftermath of the cyclone and associated flooding.