DOT Defends 511
September 6, 2011 - by
Ted Vaden, Deputy Secretary, Internal and External Affairs N.C. Department of Transportation, responds to my criticism of DOT’s 511 line and website during Irene:
“We’re big boys and girls at NCDOT, and we’ll take our hits when deserved. Certainly our 511 system can be better, but keep in mind that 511 updates were being provided by people in the field who had their hands full surveying damage and providing relief. Throughout the weekend of the storm, our communications director fielded questions from the media as completely and timely as information was available. Most importantly, we generated (and continue to do so) a constant stream of information, updated in real time, via Twitter, Facebook and our Website. We fed information through five different Twitter accounts (NCDOT, ferry, NC 12, northern coast, southern coast), and we created a separate website (http://www.ncdot.org/travel/nc12recovery/ ) and Twitter feed devoted to NC 12 information.
“You opine: ‘It shouldn’t be so hard for DOT to get good information and make it easily accessible to the public.’ I would submit that we have done so, and that’s one big reason WRAL and the other media were able to report effectively about Irene and its aftermath.”
Posted in General
DOT Defends 511
September 6, 2011/
Ted Vaden, Deputy Secretary, Internal and External Affairs N.C. Department of Transportation, responds to my criticism of DOT’s 511 line and website during Irene:
“We’re big boys and girls at NCDOT, and we’ll take our hits when deserved. Certainly our 511 system can be better, but keep in mind that 511 updates were being provided by people in the field who had their hands full surveying damage and providing relief. Throughout the weekend of the storm, our communications director fielded questions from the media as completely and timely as information was available. Most importantly, we generated (and continue to do so) a constant stream of information, updated in real time, via Twitter, Facebook and our Website. We fed information through five different Twitter accounts (NCDOT, ferry, NC 12, northern coast, southern coast), and we created a separate website (http://www.ncdot.org/travel/nc12recovery/ ) and Twitter feed devoted to NC 12 information.
“You opine: ‘It shouldn’t be so hard for DOT to get good information and make it easily accessible to the public.’ I would submit that we have done so, and that’s one big reason WRAL and the other media were able to report effectively about Irene and its aftermath.”
Posted in General