The Search for Non-Existent Facts in the Reporting of Disasters

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In a brief section in his reporting text called, Building the Disaster Story, William Metz starts with the following advice: One of the first things a reporter does after arriving on the scene is to compile a casualty list that includes the names, ages, addresses (or hometowns) and occupations.1 Metz's advice might be appropriate for an accident, but it does not fit the definition of a disaster. Accidents, like train wrecks and plane crashes, usually occur at one specific location. However, in a disaster, there usually is no specific site. The impact area can extend for blocks or hundreds of miles. In an accident, especially one in a controlled location such as an airport, emergency agencies are heavily involved in initial responses. In a disaster that covers a wide area, it is not emergency personnel but survivors who do most initial response and provide initial transport to hospital; and no one is keeping track of casualty lists. Even when emergency agencies do get involved, especially if there are casualties, they do not keep very good records because there is too much to do.2 3 4 Also, in a disaster some injured don't go for treatment because they feel others are in greater need. No one could possibly assemble a list of casualties much less acquire names, ages, addresses, occupations or hometowns. Over the past few decades, social scientists have learned a lot about disasters. They have learned, for example, that disasters are not simply large accidents but different kinds of events. They have learned that individuals perform well in disasters but organizations have difficulty. They have learned that there are many false beliefs about disasters and that the media are partly responsible for that. A review of journalism textbooks suggests that the authors who deal with disaster coverage often state as fact what social scientists have shown to be inaccurate. Perhaps that explains why myths about disasters are perpetuated in the media. Most likely, the students who used these texts were influenced by the inaccurate representation of disasters when they became reporters. Disaster research There is a lot we know about human and organizational behavior in disasters. Disaster experts know people are reluctant to believe warnings unless they are very specific and come from all possible sources. Disaster victims often put aside their own concerns to help others, panic is not a concern it's easier to cope with stark truth than vague information, and that while looting may be commonplace in riots, it is extremely rare in disasters. Riots occur because communities are divided on issues: Disasters usually pull people together (Quarantelli and Dynes (1972); Quarantelli (1984); (Drabek (1986); Scanlon (1992a); Scanlon (1992b). Logically, these findings make sense. When a tornado, earthquake or hurricane causes widespread destruction, survivors can see what needs to be done. Their family, neighbors, or co-workers need help. Organizations have more trouble responding effectively, because disasters overload or destroy communications and disrupt transportation. They have trouble finding out what happened and difficulty responding when they find out. Even when they know what has happened, they have to make difficult choices because there is too much to do. Most important, accidents and disasters are different kinds of events. Collapsed Buildings, train derailments or air crashes occur at one location and they don't threaten a community or disrupt its ability to respond. Disasters disrupt communities and the systems that make them work. It may be hours, days, weeks, or months before those systems are back in place. For example, in Kobe in 1995, the expressway between Osaka and Kobe collapsed in five places and there were 36 breaks in the 90-kilometer line for the bullet train.5 Many people have false beliefs about disasters. They believe warnings cause panic. They believe victims will be in shock, unable to help themselves let alone others. …