Updates on Social Media Published Feb. 10, 2011 By Marie Vanover 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland Air Force Base, NM -- The ability to reach base personnel and housing residents was critical during the recent extreme cold-weather crisis. Although measures to reach unit control centers are in place via installation command directives and the AtHoc system, the use of social media and the Kirtland public website was instrumental in reaching displaced family housing residents and base personnel who were not at work. Updates to facility closures, operating hours, reporting procedures and other issues affecting base personnel are recorded on Straight Talk and posted on Facebook, Twitter and the base public website (www.kirtland.af.mil ). Base personnel are encouraged to sign up and "like" the Kirtland Facebook page (www.facebook.com/KirtlandAirForceBase ) as well as become followers on Twitter (follow @KIRTLAND377ABW). Listing their mobile phone numbers on the Twitter profile will ensure they receive text messages when updates are posted on Twitter. "Social media is one more way we can communicate with our folks across the base," said Col. Robert Maness, Kirtland installation commander. "During any crisis, it is important we get information out to everyone as quickly as possible, and this gives us an additional means to reach family members and those who are away from work."