In an era of social media and rapid information distribution via mobile devices, having research-based best practices to educate and rapidly disseminate information to the public is a critical need for the fire and emergency services. The problem was that the Eden Prairie Fire Department did not have guidance developed on using social media platforms to educate and inform the public. The purpose of this action research project was to develop a social media outreach strategy, based on social media best practices, for a Midwest combination fire department, to better communicate with their local, national, and global community. Research questions focused on identifying social media platforms used by similar emergency response agencies, how they used social media to educate and inform the public, and what policies the other agencies had in place in reference to the information they published on social media. A survey of emergency response agencies representing 43 states and two other countries was conducted and compared with the best practices identified in the literature review. The combined research drove the recommendation for the creation of a social media task force, the development of a standard operating guideline for social media use on behalf of the Department, and the establishment of a strategic plan for social media outreach. These changes allow the Eden Prairie Fire Department to inform and educate the community it serves on a daily basis and in the event of a crisis.