Natural Disaster Safety

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Graffiti that reads "Derna is gone" is seen on a damaged shop wall in Derna on September 21, 2023, after a deadly storm hit Libya. (Reuters/Zohra Bensemra)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering Libya’s floods

Days after September floods killed thousands in the coastal Libyan city of Derna, protesters took to the streets to blame local authorities for failing to maintain the local dams. On September 19, Libya’s eastern administration ordered local and foreign journalists to leave the city of Derna by noon that day on the grounds that the…

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Situational awareness: A guide for journalists

When talking about journalist safety, security measures such as filling out a risk assessment, completing hostile environment awareness training (HEFAT), or using personal protective equipment (PPE) are often the first things to come to mind. However, one of the most important security measures in a journalist’s toolbox is the ability to maintain situational awareness and…

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Flooding

Physical Safety: Reporting during flash floods

Rising global temperatures are increasing the potential for flooding. Floods can occur not only during heavy rains, but also when ocean waves are being pushed onshore, when snow is melting quickly, or when dams or levees break. Flash floods are particularly dangerous, because they combine the destructive power of a flood with incredible speed. Flooding…

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Residents pass damage caused by Hurricane Dorian on September 5, 2019, in Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. (AFP/Brendan Smialowski)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas

Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 storm, hit the Bahamas on September 1, 2019. The scale of the devastation only became fully clear September 4-5, with the country’s Grand Bahama and Abaco Islands being severely impacted, according to news reports.

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Residents stand on rooftops in a flooded area of Buzi, central Mozambique, on March 20, 2019, after the passage of cyclone Idai. (AFP/Adrien Barbier)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Idai in Southern Africa

Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall during the night of March 14 and 15 in the Sofala province of Mozambique. The storm continued inland, causing flooding across Mozambique and parts of Zimbabwe and Malawi. The port city of Beira, Mozambique’s fourth largest city, has been flattened and the humanitarian crisis is acute, according to news reports.…

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Artwork: Jack Forbes

Physical safety: Natural disasters and extreme weather

The dynamics of a natural disaster or extreme weather event are fluid and threats can materialize quickly. Journalists should research potential threats associated with the event they are covering and prepare accordingly.

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