Joplin Tornado Volunteers nominated for Presidential Citizens Medal

Social Media and Disasters

 Last month, Firestorm was (and is), proud to host the whitepaper from the founders and volunteers of the Facebook page Joplin Tornado Info.

You can read the paper here: The Use of Social Media for Disaster Recovery and our accompanying interview here: A Real World Crisis Crowd™: How 3 people with 2 iPhones set a social media communications standard

We are very please to pass along this most recent update on the recognition of efforts of the volunteers involved, via the following Press Release from Joplin Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean:

Joplin Tornado Volunteers nominated for Presidential Citizens Medal, seeking your vote

CONTACT: Lynn Onstot, Public Information Officer
417-624-0820, ext. 204

Melodee Colbert-Kean, Joplin Mayor
417-437-8141 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Joplin is making a notable recovery from the May 22, 2011 Tornado. This recovery was made possible by the caring hearts of willing volunteers who contributed their prayers, along with financial, emotional and physical resources to the renewal of Joplin. Join us in our effort to recognize the crucial role of volunteers in the recovery of Joplin by nominating "Volunteer Joplin" for the 2012 Presidential Citizens Award.

For over 40 years the Presidential Citizens Medal has recognized Americans who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their county or fellow citizens. Who better to receive this honor than the 125,000 plus volunteers, both official and unofficial, who have kindly given their time, energy, money and talents to the renewal of Joplin?

To nominate "Volunteer Joplin" go to www.whitehouse.gov/citizensmedal/submit-a-nomination and complete the nomination format. For the Nominee’s Name field, type Volunteer Joplin, and under the age field, put 50 (to cover those from age 8-80 who volunteered). Help us thank Volunteer Joplin by nominating Volunteer Joplin for this prestigious award. Deadlines for nominations is April 24, 2012.

This nomination effort is being spearheaded by Joplin Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean, Cate Cassel Loch with Scrubs for Joplin, and Rebecca Williams, an administrator of Joplin Tornado Info Facebook page. The effort to secure a Presidential Citizens Medal for Volunteer Joplin was spawned from comments on Joplin tornado Info Facebook page. The Joplin Tornado Info Facebook community agreed that it would be impossible to single out one individual for this award when so many have given to Joplin.

To promote the efforts to nominate Volunteer Joplin for the 2012 Presidential Citizens Award a Facebook page has been established, www.facebook.com/volunteerjoplin