Covering ‘Lando’: Lessons learned

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE to Typhoon Lando (International name: Koppu) demonstrated the improved level of disaster preparedness in the country. Government support has made possible more accurate forecasting by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). And the media once again showed its enhanced capacity to act as first informer, a most important aspect of disaster management.

Guidelines for coverage of disasters and catastrophes (Philippine Journalism Review, now PJR Reports, first published this guide in its August 1990 issue.) On-site and field reports for radio and television must build on verified facts. Facts of geography, location, population, infrastructure, commerce and industry flesh out the damage with specific detail. Estimates of casualties should be corroborated by various sources. If official counts are available, these should be cited and specifically sourced. At the time of the crisis, broadcast reporters need tone down their delivery, so as not to contribute to public hysteria. Updates and warnings serve the purpose better when issued in a calm and restrained voice. Reporters must beef up their stories with research. Orientation about the issues raised by the particular kind of disaster and rescue operations prepares correspondents to observe the procedures more intelligently without interfering with the conduct of operations. Reporters must bear in mind that rescue operations take precedence over their story. They cannot interfere with the saving of lives and prevention of injury. They must respect the primary obligation of rescue workers which is to save lives. Reporters and photojournalists cannot be to sensitive to the plight of victims and their families and friends. In getting their story or picture, they must respect the victims’ desire for and right to privacy. News directors for radio and TV should aim for balanced coverage with the use of straight news, feature and human interest stories. the latter to provide necessary color but cannot take the place of hard information. Unconfirmed reports should be handled with care and caution. Completely blind reports must be passed off until verified for accuracy. Crisis coverage must be devoid of posturing, playing hero and other kinds of grandstanding on the part of media. It should also guard against the use of media time or space by those pushing for their individual and personal gains. Such gimmickry can get on the nerves and add to the burden of streets. Reporters should prepare a line of questioning for spot interviews. Radio anchors should minimize the chit-chat ordinarily used to protect intimacy with listeners or to fill up idle time. The level of triviality can be disturbing and out-of-synch with the gravity of the situation. Hour-on-the-hour formats to cover developments should use well-informed resource persons who can help to promote understanding by expanding the cast of personalities and voices.

The media did well in providing weather updates in prime time newscasts before Lando made landfall on October 18. The 24 Oras (GMA7), Aksyon (TV5), and TV Patrol (ABS-CBN 2) dutifully noted Pagasa’s tracking of the typhoon, and the different platforms disseminated the advisories as these came at 11 a.m./p.m. and 5 a.m./p.m.

Noting Lando’s strength as it approached eastern Luzon, the news reports warned the public about the risk of landslides and flooding. Graphic images made clear gale and storm surge warnings, showing how much damage these can cause. A 24 Oras report compared Pagasa’s forecasted track with those of foreign weather agencies, helping pinpoint the locations to be hit the worst. Media also noted preparations taken by key government agencies and local government units and how the provinces likely to be affected braced for the looming tropical cyclone. Lando’s increased strength was also noted as it closed in on Aurora province.

Aside from the above-mentioned newscasts, CMFR also monitored three daily broadsheets: the Manila Bulletin, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and The Philippine Star, and found that the reports provided pertinent information such as Lando’s strength, direction, and speed, noting that it would stay in Northern Luzon before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). Lando struck Casiguran, Aurora, in the early morning of October 18.

However, CMFR noted the lack of more specific geographic references on the projected landfall and the location of communities affected by the typhoon’s impact. Such information could help promote a greater awareness of the most vulnerable areas in the country – an awareness which may help the public evaluate the capacity of local governments to respond to the different kinds of climactic crises and threats.

Media can also improve reporting on post-disaster situations in affected areas. Correspondents on-site during on-cam reports need to be trained in providing categories of information. Limiting their role to announcing the improved weather condition in an area or showing flooded streets and fallen trees wastes the opportunity to provide information that will help government agencies work together, and to coordinate response to various needs. Reports should focus on the availability or lack of power, the projected time for the restoration of public transportation, and the situation in evacuation sites, among others.

An overview of the extent of damage may be hard to accomplish in a disaster’s aftermath, but could be the key to ensuring appropriate rescue and relief responses. Reporting on categories of need becomes easier and more organized when the magnitude of damage is reported accurately.

Aftermath

Sadly, the rescue and relief efforts did not meet government’s zero casualty goal, with the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) registering the highest number of deaths according to the October 29 update of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC). The said report pegged the total casualty at 48.

Flooding is always a possibility during typhoons, but the volume brought by Lando was to some extent unanticipated. This was evident in the reactions of some affected civilians interviewed in certain locations. Reports quoted these sources as saying that this was the first time such flooding has been experienced in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. Some people accustomed to floods in other provinces refused to budge, exposing the need to strengthen information campaigns on floodwater perils as well as the need to improve facilities in evacuation sites or to increase their number to help people decide to evacuate.

NDRRMC’s updates contained documentation on casualties and their causes, whether by landslides, floods, or others. This knowledge would guide the public in undertaking preventive measures as necessary. The media should focus on reports on this phase of disaster management to help instruct the public about natural hazards in their environment.

Hazard mapping

Technological advancements have had a huge impact on disaster risk reduction globally. Government efforts have resulted in innovations. In 2012, the Department of Science and Technology launched Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), which its website says aims to provide at least a six-hour lead time warning to vulnerable communities (http://www.noah.gov.ph).

In ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart with Karen Davila, Project Noah Exec. Dir. Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay said that flood and hazard maps are available for both the public and the government to understand (“Project NOAH exec explains flooding in Nueva Ecija,” Oct. 19, 2015). Lagmay talked about Project Noah graphs depicting regions that receive huge volumes of rain based on data from deployed sensors, which unfortunately the studio cameras could not show. Lagmay also said free seminars are conducted every two weeks to teach people how to use Project Noah and read its data.

The media should take advantage of this and familiarize themselves with reliable and timely hazard and risk information. Added knowledge and background can upgrade the level of public information, making media a key partner of government agencies in disseminating crucial information and possible scenarios even before a typhoon hits.

El Niño and climate change

The media did note a positive impact of Lando, which is the dumping of rain into reservoirs as the nation battles El Niño. Several dams were even forced to open floodgates. But the reports also said that Lando only temporarily eased the depleting water resources. The weather bureau also warned that it may not be the last typhoon this year. Any typhoon to follow Lando would further test risk-reduction and mitigation capacities.

High levels of public awareness and understanding will enhance collective capacity to deal with the ever worsening impact of climactic disasters. Media coverage could take their cue from, and focus disaster reporting on, the need to promote public awareness of the threat arising from climate change.