As Haiti slowly rebuilds after its catastrophic earthquake, over 3,000 miles across the Americas, another powerful earthquake and tsunami has struck Chile, displacing over two million people. So far Michelle Bachelet’s government is confident that the country’s strong internal infrastructures can cope with the crisis and manage the relief efforts.
Chile has spent many years building its media sector and disaster preparedness policies - what are the learnings from Santiago to Port-au-Prince?
Lisa Robinson, who helped to deliver Connexion Haiti, the BBC’s emergency lifeline radio programme, reports.
Soon after the earthquake struck in Chile, we considered whether lifeline broadcasting similar to that for Haiti would be necessary. Watching and listening to local media, however, it was apparent they were doing a very good job of aiming to deliver vital information to affected populations.
Media’s ability to respond to the crises has differed drastically between Chile and Haiti.
Since Chile’s buildings were better prepared for earthquakes, structural damage was less and more stations were able to continue on air.
The extensive number of radio and TV stations in Chile means that there are significantly more resources to continue broadcasting. In areas where the media infrastructure has been affected, neighbouring media can step in to help.
Natacha Pisarenko/AP photo
Content has delivered practical information that audiences can use to deal with the crisis. From the early hours, TV reports were requesting drivers to stay off roads, giving updates on hospitals that were closed, assuring people that aftershocks were normal, and urging people to remain calm.
Chile’s national disaster preparedness mechanisms have facilitated the crucial delivery of information to the affected populations. For example, when the emergency telephone line wasn’t working, replacement numbers were issued within hours and broadcast on TV. President Bachelet has been on camera giving status updates regularly.
It’s too early to know the full extent of the damage and how audiences’ access to media has been interrupted in the most severely hit areas. International media organisations may be on standby to deliver support where needed. Meanwhile, they’ll be observing the information response and gathering learnings from Chile’s strong media sector.
