Record layouts and samples of this database
| Main documentation (Readme2011.txt) | 14.1 KB | |
| Sample Data (Disaster.xls) | 15.7 KB |
Related Tipsheets
The Day After: Resources for Covering the Aftermath of Natural Disasters
This tipsheet is comprised of slides from Nixon's power point presentation on covering natural disasters. The slides cover information about SBA disaster loans, federal contracts and other data. Nixon included examples of recent stories that used each type of data.Following the Money after a Disaster
Buettner walks us through how story about the federal money given to New York after 9/11. He discusses the agencies he investigated and the sorts of data he analyzed to find out where the money was going. The data he discusses includes contract data, grant data, SBA Disaster Loans, and FEMA grants. Buettner discusses how he found and used each type of data. At the end of the tipsheet, he shares the results of his investigation.Hurricane/Disaster CAR
The four hurricanes that battered Florida in 2004 made for one of the most remarkable, memorable, and costly hurricane seasons in history. John Maines has suggestions and resources for reporters covering emergency situations, from the Federal Emergency Managment Agency, to private companies who provide images of destruction for free.After the storm: Using FEMA records to piece together winners & losers
Gaul's tipsheet outlines approaches to analyzing Federal Emergency Management Administration records to show "how the breathless coverage of storms greases the skids for disaster declarations." Tips include tracking how, where and to whom FEMA dollars are allocated following a disaster, whether National Flood Insurance Program premiums are covering expenses, and who are receiving Small Business Administration loans following a disaster.
Related Stories
Neediest slighted on storm loans
When tornadoes struck Fort Worth and destroyed many properties, President Clinton issued a disaster declaration. Fort Worth Star Telegram reporters find out who got the promised federal assistance and how much they received.Cashing in on Disaster
This investigation started with the observation that many more Floridians were receiving disaster relief funds than were actually affected by the 2004 storms. The story went on to reveal that some relatively unaffected parts of Florida received even more aid than areas that took a direct hit. Residents of Miami-Dade County got more than $21 million, though the actual damage done there was equivalent to a bad thunderstorm. Reporters found that FEMA inspectors often received inadequate training. Results from the story include a state legislative investigation into the hurricane payments and even involvement from the federal Department of Homeland Security.9/11 Money Trough
The series examined what happened to the $21.4 billion that President Bush promised to help New York City recover in the aftermath of Sept. 11. The results are disheartening, finding widespread waste, fraud and mismanagement.Sept 11 - Lax loans
The governments $5 billion effort to help small businesses recover from the Sept 11 attacks was so loosely managed that it gave low-interest loans to companies that didn't need terrorism relief - or even know they were getting it.