For most of America, daily life went on as usual. And yet, the events touched lives far beyond San Francisco and the Carolinas, because people experienced the disasters through the mass media. Whether highlighting acts of heroism, relaying someone's sorrow, or simply explaining what happened, the media brought us right into the tragedies. It's a tough assignment. During both disasters, critics said the media acted insensitively, sensationalizing the human suffering.
Different media serve different functions in disaster situations.
As Hurricane Hugo approached, for example, newspapers such as the Charleston Courier told people how to prepare for the storm and where to go for emergency shelters. During the hurricane, when power went down along the coast, inland radio stations beamed their signals into Charleston to keep people informed. Tribune told residents how to get emergency aid and file insurance claims. Meanwhile, the national media spurred the rest of the country to send assistance. The New York Times , for example, ran a listing of relief organizations that were accepting donations.