IntroductionSocial media has become popular and crucial in crisis and emergency communications. Operators not only communicate with their audiences through social media, but the public communicates with each other and with operators. Individuals are able to provide important information about disaster impacts, including location and images, using nothing more than a smartphone equipped with a camera and GPS tracker. One particular technology from Ushahidi offers an interesting way for operators and affected people to communicate with each other during a disaster response. The Ushahidi BRCK offers an application of technology that, while not originally designed for use in the emergency management field, has application in disaster response. This and other technologies contribute to the ever-evolving way that operators and individuals communicate. Social Media Pros Social media sites, including Twitter and Facebook, are in their infancy but playing an increasingly important role in disaster response. After all, “one of the fundamental aspects of emergency management is mass communication and the ability to provide relevant information to those who need it” (Gould, 2012). Social media offers an avenue to get up-to-date information on a given situation directly into an individual's hands thanks to the proliferation of mobile devices. “Each disaster triggers its own complex network of rapid information exchange. It can both improve disaster response and enable affected populations to take control of their situation and feel empowered” (Maron, 2013). While traditional forms of media, print, radio and television in particular, have been the standard since the beginning of the emerging paper period. Retrieved from http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-42Gould, K. (2012). The benefits of social media for emergency management. Retrieved from http://nwism.com/social-media/the-benefits-of-social-media-for-emergency-management/Luna, L. (2011). Social media: uncharted waters for government. Retrieved from http://urgentcomm.com/blog/social-media-uncharted-waters-governmentMaron, D. (2013). How social media is changing disaster response. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-social-media-is-changing-disaster-response/ Stephens, K. (2010), How can the emergency management community use technology to improve resilience?. Retrieved from http://idisaster.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/how-can-we-use-technology-to-improve-community-resilience/Ushahidi. (n.d.). BRCK. Retrieved from http://ushahidi.com/products/brck/