Dr. Samantha Montano Profile picture
Sep 10, 2018 15 tweets 5 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
A quick guide for journalists re: #HurricaneFlorence

A list of common problems with reporting during disasters and why they're a problem.

Your coverage of Florence has major implications.

#EMGTwitter
People are not panicking. People are not looting.

When you perpetuate these disaster myths you risk the divergence of resources from the people who actually need assistance.

Rebecca Solnit explains: latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/…
The really good news is that people HELP each other during disasters. Response is characterized by pro-social helping behavior. Here’s an example from Texas:
Disasters aren’t natural! Here’s an entire twitter account about this: @NoNatDisasters

Here’s an example I wrote explaining why: citylab.com/environment/20…

Characterizing disasters as natural implies we can't do anything about them, which we can!
Response and recovery are different!!!!!!! Here’s a cheat-sheet: Response = life-saving measures to protect people, property & environment. Recovery = restoring, rebuilding, and reshaping.
In fact, the words that you’re using to talk about an unfolding disaster have actual meanings and it’s a problem when they’re not used correctly.
Climate change does not *cause* disasters but it does change the characteristics of hazards (i.e., hurricanes) (and also our vulnerability but I won’t complicate this here) so there is a connection. Weather attribution studies will be done over the next few months.
I know you want to write about the President. Here’s a guide to his role during this situation (just find and replace Harvey with Florence): vox.com/2017/8/26/1620…

And also, here’s a thread from when I was mad post-Maria:
Responding to a disaster and catastrophe are different. Harvey & ( most probably Florence) = disaster; Katrina & levee failure and Maria = catastrophes. Your comparisons about how the situations are handled isn’t that useful.
If you really want to go above and beyond in your journalistic endeavors may I recommend distinguishing between IMPACTS and actual NEED. Disasters do not affect all equally! Some people will have more/ different NEEDS than others.
Finally — remember that what you write and what you say matters. The media is a stakeholder in emergency management. What you say and the attention you bring to certain people and places MATTERS.
And I’m going to call y’all out because you very recently FAILED to take this responsibility seriously: washingtonpost.com/news/postevery…
Here’s a tangible example of how *national* media coverage influences donations:
Local media is especially important and you should cherish them. 1. They know the community best, understand the situation best. 2. They’re going through the disaster too and need to stay safe.
sfchronicle.com/entertainment/…

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More from @SamLMontano

Mar 30, 2018
There are many ways the formal US emergency management system fails women but not preparing for the increase in domestic violence post-disaster is one of the most egregious.

(True internationally too but I'll just talk US here).

#EmergencyManagement101 #EMGTwitter
Here’s what the research says:

Post-disaster the number of women who seek out domestic violence shelters & the number of reported cases of domestic violence increase. There is a resurgence/ increase in abuse & new cases of abuse reported.
Survivors who left abusive relationships pre-disaster may re-enter these relationships post-disaster. When someone loses their home & does not have the ability to access resources they may have no option but to return to their abusers in an effort to met needs like housing.
Read 18 tweets
Jan 1, 2018
So much disaster & emergency management research exists.

No one reads it. Let's change this.

My twitter resolution is to post one journal article a day for the whole year.

#EmergencyManagement101 #EMGTwitter #SciComm
(I’ll post open source articles when available but if you can't access an article DM and I will send you a copy.)
Let’s start at the beginning. Samuel Prince’s 1920 dissertation is credited with being the first systematic social analysis of a disaster.

books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr…
Read 127 tweets

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