Hurricane Resources for Journalists

Jump to: Consolidated Resources | Health Concerns | Maps & Geographic Info. | General Info.

Consolidated Resources for Journalists

Rita Supply Availability Map: An interactive map intended to assist people in the affected area seeking fuel and emergency supplies.
Photographers Displaced by Severe Weather: Are you a photographer who has been displaced by one of the 2005 Hurricanes? List your information in our "Hurricane Job Seekers" database.
Job Postings for Displaced Journalists: The NPPA now has an online listing of employers and positions providing consideration to journalists impacted by Hurricanes Katrina & Rita.
Help Wanted and Offered: Are you a photographer who has been displaced by one of the 2005 hurricanes who is looking for help other than employment? Or are you someone who has resources to offer? Leave a message in our "Hurricane Help Messages" database.
Managing Traumatic Stress (PDF, 58kb): Publication from the American Psychological Association, with guidelines on managing traumatic stress. (Written for Hurricane Katrina, but still topical.)
Journalism & Trauma - News University: This course teaches journalists who cover violent crimes, horrific accidents, natural disasters and other traumatic events in which they witness human pain and suffering about how traumatic stress affects victims and how to interview trauma victims with compassion and respect.
(From the DART Center for Journalism & Trauma at the University of Washington.)
Public Education Campaign Coordinators (PDF, 113KB): American Psychological Association list of grassroots psychologists participating in the Public Education Campaign.

Also, the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma has information on its Web site about trauma suffered by journalists who cover disasters and on how journalists may apply for relief aide from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (from Hurricane Katrina Aftermath: Journalists Helping Journalists, by Donald Winslow)

General Information

Hurricane Katrina entry on Wikipedia
Hurricane Rita entry on Wikipedia: Community-driven content and information about Hurricanes Katrina & Rita.
Katrina.com: Information regarding Katrina, contains many links to local and national emergency management information and relief effort coordination.

Media Coverage - Rita: KRIS-TV (Corpus Christi, TX) Live Coverage; KRIS-TV Blogging the Storm; KHOU-TV Houston; KRPC-TV Houston; KTRK-TV Houston; Consolidated Newspaper, TV, Radio and Web Coverage; The preceding links were provided by Al Tompkins of the Poynter Institute.

How you can help!

Update the Supply Map!: Let others know where to find gas or supplies, or where they are no longer available.
Post a Job: Is your News Organization hiring displaced journalists? Use our FREE Job Posting board to get the word out.
Donate to the American Red Cross: Donations to the Red Cross can be made online or by phone: 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669).

Maps & Geographic Information

Katrina Information Map: An interactive map which allows individuals with location-specific information to make updates (uses Google Maps)
New Orleans Devastation: Interactive Map from the Houston Chronicle (requires Flash Player).
Texas Disaster Page: "A one-top shopping center for all things stormy in Texas." (previous two links from Poynter.org)
Texas Department of Transportation: Texas DOT information regarding evacuation and road conditions.
Texas Department of Public Safety - Rita Information: Links to resources and news gathering organizations providing information about Hurricane Rita.
Louisiana Road Closure Index: State Police information about road closures as well as Parish contact information.
Entergy Power Outage Information: Local electricity/gas outages for Louisiana and Mississippi.

Health Concerns

Sick City: The diseases that Katrina unleashed.: Slate.com medical examiner column on the health hazards related to Katrina.

"Although infectious diseases are a frightening prospect, widespread outbreaks of infectious disease after hurricanes are not common in the United States. Rare and deadly exotic diseases, such as cholera or typhoid, do not suddenly break out after hurricanes and floods in areas where such diseases do not naturally occur."