Preparing for disaster might sound like an impossible task – after all, events such as this season's hurricanes do not wait until those in their paths are ready for their fury. But there are steps journalists can take to get ready for computer-assisted reporting after the big one hits. Journalism veterans say there are some essential databases for newsrooms to use in reporting on the aftermath of a disaster.
So what should you keep on hand and updated? "Any databases that give you a comprehensive picture both of the people and the structures of your area, such as detailed Census data, property tax roll, flood plain maps in database form ready for mapping, and information about the transportation system of the area," says Steve Doig, a journalism professor at Arizona State University and a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors' board of directors.
Property tax rolls, available in electronic form, are at the heart of any investigation about who and what is affected by a disaster. These databases provide information about the characteristics of each property, such as buildings and land use, and who owns it. Property records are also useful in tracking activity as communities rebuild, says Margot Williams, database research editor at The New York Times.
"They may give us a way to figure out down the road where people went, to see where they were, what new ownership will be and where people used to live," Williams says. "It allows us to take a look back when we see what places like Louisiana look like a year or two from now." Data from the 2000 Census – the most recent – contains detailed population information, down to areas as small as a city block.
Journalists can use this data to generate estimates of the number of people stricken by disaster and describe the affected areas. Williams says the newspaper's strategy includes backing up databases on servers that are accessible off-site. It also has a newsroom already set up elsewhere if journalists need to relocate from the newspaper's main newsroom. Doig stressed the importance of off-site backup as part of a plan to get a newsroom back in operation.
"Individual reporters can dump files onto a CD, but the IT department should also have a plan that puts [the files] in another location." Doig recalled the 2001 anthrax contamination at the American Media Inc. building in Boca Raton, Fla., which shut down the building. AMI, which publishes supermarket tabloids, abandoned the building. "With a little bit of thought, you can anticipate certain disasters, and with a relatively small amount of money, you can make sure it won't be a crippling one."