The study focused on the variables that may affect how social media is used for disaster management. Structural equation modeling SEM was utilized in the study to analyze the data and test the hypotheses after using a survey questionnaire to collect the data. The study added to the body of knowledge regarding the role social media plays in disaster management.
Within disaster management, disaster communication is a particularly dynamic field. Since there are so many different and developing ways that individuals use media during disasters, it is extremely difficult to capture the state of the art in this field. According to [1] [2] [3] [4] , organizations and people involved in disaster management are optimistic about using social media to improve communication and operations during disaster management.
They frequently use social media and their social networks to find and provide information necessary for making vital decisions like paying attention to warnings and organizing evacuations [5]. Social media have changed in recent years from being merely a passive medium of information exchangeβthat is, merely disseminating static information of disaster occurrenceβto an active emergency tool that has the capability of disseminating real-time warning information, creating real-time situational awareness of user activities, and receiving requests for assistance [6] [7].
The benefits of social media, such as their usability, effectiveness as a communication tool, and ability to facilitate free and open information exchange online, have increased their usage in disaster management [3] [8] [9] [10]. Social media has been used in disaster management to gather information for analyzing crises and creating operational pictures, coordinating rescue activities, and disseminating important information to as many people as possible [11].
All communities cannot equally benefit from the use of social media as essential instruments for communication and collaboration in disaster management and relief because of social disparity in access to and use of social media data [6] [7]. Some of the groups who come under the category of disaster-prone or vulnerable communities include those who are from lower socioeconomic classes, people with disabilities, the elderly, the lonely, and those who are marginalized.
