Assessing and addressing information needs around natural disasters
A 2021 study showed that 85% of the world's population has already been affected by human-induced climate change. This has been true for many in the U.S. this year with heat waves, drought, major flooding in Eastern Kentucky and the St. Louis area. And the impacts from climate change are increasing in frequency and severity.
Accurate and reliable information is crucial during a natural disaster. Understanding your community’s information needs will help your newsroom respond quickly in times of great need.
In Northern California, where wildfires have become a year-round threat, North State Public Radio is launching a survey to find out what their community needs to know about evacuations during a wildfire. Using a wide variety of community partners such as fire safe councils, Facebook groups and local print media, they hope to reach vulnerable populations in fire-prone areas. Ultimately the station plans a series of stories to help people understand evacuation routes and resources. In the meantime, NSPR is monitoring fires that pose potential threats to its community and providing resources for those impacted.
Another America Amplified station, WMMT in eastern Kentucky, was among the thousands affected by the recent record flooding. Reporter Katie Myers tells us they had six feet of water inside the building — all of the broadcast equipment was submerged and was a total loss. They also suffered heavy losses to their 50-year-old collection of Appalachian audio, film, photography and literature. But the team is working to get back on the air with a temporary RV setup. Meanwhile, they are trying to support their community by sharing information on other platforms, like social media and flyers. The entire staff has also pivoted towards direct mutual aid — dropping of flashlights and water, videotaping to help people document damage for FEMA.
The Decibel team at Austin PBS spent a year listening to and reporting on folks in a nearby unincorporated community called Del Valle. A few months ago, they published a comprehensive resource guide for the community. The guide included vital information in both English and Spanish for everything from health care, to emergency services and food access. The team is now using what they’ve learned to create a similar guide for another community in the Pflugerville area.
Using information from past experiences and conducting listening sessions in advance of natural disasters can help your newsroom respond with accurate and useful information during times of crisis.
Keep it going
Madeleine Bair is the Founding Director of El Tímpano, a nonprofit focused on civic engagement. She joined us back in February to walk us through how to conduct an information needs assessment (INA) and how newsrooms can prepare for crises. Bair also shared one of El Tímpano’s INA of Latino Immigrants in Oakland, California, and how they mapped that community's information needs.