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Original poster

Surprised at lack of mainstream media coverage of Helene

118 replies

notanothernamechange24 · 06/10/2024 00:16

Is anyone else surprised by the lack of media coverage following the hurricane in America a week ago?
The images coming out of western North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Florida are really shocking.
Multiple towns destroyed. Roads washed away. Power lines down. Trees and debris everywhere.
Over 200 people are known to have died. 1400 more are still listed as missing.

But barely any mention on the news? Or am I just missing it?

Same with the flooding in Nepal. Mentioned once and then barely anything since.

OP posts:
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Original poster
notanothernamechange24 · 08/10/2024 11:47

DanielaDressen · 08/10/2024 11:15

I think there’s going to be quite a bit of coverage about Florida in the next day or so depending how badly it gets hit. Maybe it’s area dependent? A place that uk people can relate to like Florida will make the news but the “hillbillies” in NC the news broadcasters assume we don’t care?

More likely it's because Florida is a UK tourist hotspot. There is likely to be a significant number of British tourists there now. I personally know two people who are there now.

OP posts:
DanielaDressen · 08/10/2024 11:57

notanothernamechange24 · 08/10/2024 11:47

More likely it's because Florida is a UK tourist hotspot. There is likely to be a significant number of British tourists there now. I personally know two people who are there now.

Show quote history

Yes that’s partly what I meant by us being able to relate to Florida. Not just perceiving it to be the same level as urbanisation but also quite possibly having visited there.

interesting the previous comment regarding will our infrastructure be our downfall. Lots of people in Tampa can’t evacuate now as no gas at the filling stations. Nobody has a horse to jump on! So they’re stranded and scared.

As a kid I used to live very rurally and was used to powercuts for days. I still live in a village and when we replaced our gas fire I had a log burner put in. People slag them off for the environment but I know in a bad situation we can keep the downstairs warm. We have a stovetop kettle so we can boil water on the log burner. I have a sawyer water filter so I can get water out the river. I have plenty of tinned food, pasta, rice, etc. we wouldn’t starve for months if necessary. Obviously if the house is swept away it would be of no use but I’m hoping that’s unlikely.

SweetSakura · 08/10/2024 12:30

DanielaDressen · 08/10/2024 10:18

I knew this would get derailed into a "but what about a disaster in x country, do you not care about non white people" argument. Knew it.

And no I hadn't heard about the flooding in Africa (and I used to live in Africa, so it's not like I don't give a shit about it), so yes I'd agree there should be more coverage about that too.

I think what potentially makes what has happened in the USA though more surprising from a lack of coverage isn't about a white people vs brown people newsworthiness. But from a developing world vs developed world pov. Sadly natural disasters, etc with lots of people affected are more common place in the developing world - doesn't make it right, but that's a fact. The news will often focus on stuff which is unusual, uncommon.......and I would say that what has happened in the USA is not only unusual but the lack of help from the world's supposed superpower to it's own people is unusual.

Yes , and the fact that a lot of more "climate change aware" Americans have moved or are planning moves to what they see as "safer areas" , and NC was seen as one of these.

People still aren't going to change their behaviours though are they. Sad

HappierTimesAhead · 08/10/2024 14:25

The scenes showing tailbacks of people trying to flee are like something out of a Hollywood disaster movie. This is the stark reality of climate change impacting a first world country. It's massive news and bizarre that it isn't taking up more coverage. Is it also about how the BBC prioritise where they put reporters? They don't seem to have anyone on the ground there (that I have read).

BlackShuck3 · 08/10/2024 14:40

HappierTimesAhead · 08/10/2024 14:25

The scenes showing tailbacks of people trying to flee are like something out of a Hollywood disaster movie. This is the stark reality of climate change impacting a first world country. It's massive news and bizarre that it isn't taking up more coverage. Is it also about how the BBC prioritise where they put reporters? They don't seem to have anyone on the ground there (that I have read).

A first world country that will probably vote for trump and make it even worse.

RubyRooRed · 08/10/2024 14:49

Yes @HappierTimesAhead Ive watched the clips of the 4 lane highways full of cars , it must be so scary .
I read that a lot of people can’t actually get fuel to put in their cars as the pumps have run out so they have no choice but to hunker down.
There have been evacuation centres set up in stadiums and schools , I’m assuming these have better protection / build standards than normal buildings .

DanielaDressen · 08/10/2024 14:54

RubyRooRed · 08/10/2024 14:49

Yes @HappierTimesAhead Ive watched the clips of the 4 lane highways full of cars , it must be so scary .
I read that a lot of people can’t actually get fuel to put in their cars as the pumps have run out so they have no choice but to hunker down.
There have been evacuation centres set up in stadiums and schools , I’m assuming these have better protection / build standards than normal buildings .

Wouldn't bet on it - didn't the roof get ripped off the SuperDome in Katrina? And women were repeatedly raped while sheltering there.

HappierTimesAhead · 08/10/2024 15:03

DanielaDressen · 08/10/2024 14:54

Wouldn't bet on it - didn't the roof get ripped off the SuperDome in Katrina? And women were repeatedly raped while sheltering there.

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I have to say when I saw the rows and rows of campbeds at Tropicana Field I thought what a horrible and vulnerable environment that would be with your children. So noisy and amongst people you don't know. I would be terrified of losing my children.

SweetSakura · 08/10/2024 15:06

HappierTimesAhead · 08/10/2024 15:03

I have to say when I saw the rows and rows of campbeds at Tropicana Field I thought what a horrible and vulnerable environment that would be with your children. So noisy and amongst people you don't know. I would be terrified of losing my children.

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Same. And I just googled the Superdome referenced above and that sounds like it was an awful place to be

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/trapped-in-the-superdome-refuge-becomes-a-hellhole/

Eastie77Returns · 08/10/2024 15:16

DanielaDressen · 08/10/2024 10:18

I knew this would get derailed into a "but what about a disaster in x country, do you not care about non white people" argument. Knew it.

And no I hadn't heard about the flooding in Africa (and I used to live in Africa, so it's not like I don't give a shit about it), so yes I'd agree there should be more coverage about that too.

I think what potentially makes what has happened in the USA though more surprising from a lack of coverage isn't about a white people vs brown people newsworthiness. But from a developing world vs developed world pov. Sadly natural disasters, etc with lots of people affected are more common place in the developing world - doesn't make it right, but that's a fact. The news will often focus on stuff which is unusual, uncommon.......and I would say that what has happened in the USA is not only unusual but the lack of help from the world's supposed superpower to it's own people is unusual.

I made no reference to race and the thread hasn’t been derailed. It’s been made clear that the US is indeed more newsworthy than other countries because of ‘cultural ties’ and the disaster being more relatable ‘because it’s Florida’.

DanielaDressen · 08/10/2024 15:24

Eastie77Returns · 08/10/2024 15:16

I made no reference to race and the thread hasn’t been derailed. It’s been made clear that the US is indeed more newsworthy than other countries because of ‘cultural ties’ and the disaster being more relatable ‘because it’s Florida’.

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Another person specifically mentioned brown people and that they were being considered disposable.

You talked about West Africa and asked why we weren't as concerned about the flooding there.

I'm just not keen on introducing "whataboutery". It's clear what this thread was about. By all means start a thread on the flooding in west africa if you want. Maybe you have?

RubyRooRed · 08/10/2024 15:32

@SweetSakura That article is quite bleak reading isn’t it.
I knew the sanitation had failed in the super dome but didn’t realise everyone was forced to stay in there by the National Guard.
I was reading up on hurricane Katrina and it also started as cat 5 and went to cat 3 on landfall , this sounds so similar and hoping everyone in Florida gets through it.
Is it right we are to get the tail end of the winds even here on Friday ?
If so it goes to show what a huge weather event this is.

SweetSakura · 08/10/2024 15:44

DanielaDressen · 08/10/2024 15:24

Another person specifically mentioned brown people and that they were being considered disposable.

You talked about West Africa and asked why we weren't as concerned about the flooding there.

I'm just not keen on introducing "whataboutery". It's clear what this thread was about. By all means start a thread on the flooding in west africa if you want. Maybe you have?

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It's somewhat odd to make this about race too. Countries/parts of the world is certainly an interesting question. But I have heaps of relatives in the US and none of them are white.

Eastie77Returns · 08/10/2024 16:53

DanielaDressen · 08/10/2024 15:24

Another person specifically mentioned brown people and that they were being considered disposable.

You talked about West Africa and asked why we weren't as concerned about the flooding there.

I'm just not keen on introducing "whataboutery". It's clear what this thread was about. By all means start a thread on the flooding in west africa if you want. Maybe you have?

Show quote history

Another person mentioned brown people. So not me then? Hence making the point that I (personally) did not make this about race.

If you re-read my question, it was not about the focus on white people. It was about the focus on America, the country. A country that is home to millions of black and brown people as well as white. So, by definition if the focus is on the US it includes those non-white people as well.

DanielaDressen · 08/10/2024 17:20

Eastie77Returns · 08/10/2024 16:53

Another person mentioned brown people. So not me then? Hence making the point that I (personally) did not make this about race.

If you re-read my question, it was not about the focus on white people. It was about the focus on America, the country. A country that is home to millions of black and brown people as well as white. So, by definition if the focus is on the US it includes those non-white people as well.

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I never said you had said anything about race in my post at 10:18 so not sure why you started talking to me saying you hadn’t said about this. My post at @0:18 wasn’t directed at you so I’m slightly confused by your posts. My post was a general one reflecting the turn in the conversation by quite a few people.

DanielaDressen · 08/10/2024 17:22

SweetSakura · 08/10/2024 15:44

It's somewhat odd to make this about race too. Countries/parts of the world is certainly an interesting question. But I have heaps of relatives in the US and none of them are white.

Show quote history

Absolutely.

colouringindoors · 08/10/2024 17:30

Couldn't agree more! The devastation in North Carolina and Tennesse is horrendous. Three quarters of a million without power. Guys with mules delivering medicene. The amount of rain that fell was insane.

Havent read the whole thread yet, but last night watched a US meterologist become emotional on air describing the severity of Hurticane Milton.

The insurance situation in Florida is a huge issue and according to some reports, house prices have nearly halved in some areas this year.

Florida could well be one of first major depopulations due to climate change in the 'developed' world.

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