Stay safe, be sensitive and learn to recognize your own stress. Those three commands sum up the basic advice for reporters going out to cover a disaster, whether it be a flood, a fire or a terrorist attack.
Preparing to go to the disaster site - Helpful resources for reporters preparing to go to a disaster site -- or wondering what they need to know just in case.
Who's who in emergency response - One of the best preparations to make in advance of disaster striking in your community is to figure out who is responsible for emergency response and get to know them, as well as the best way to reach them in a pinch.
A good reporter also might spend some time imagining the disasters that could happen. Indeed, emergency management officials have probably done much of this thinking for you. They would be a good place to start when you are ready to research and write a story.
Then, simply look around. Is your community near a river, a hydroelectric dam, a nuclear reactor? These might give fodder for stories looking at "what-ifs?" What if the dam were to give way? What if a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed near an elementary school? What if there were more casualties than the local hospital could handle? Where would people in your community be sent?
By examining these issues up front, you will be better prepared when disaster strikes.
