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How to Document Natural Disasters Safely & Responsibly


The world depends on citizen journalists to capture the raw and heartbreaking realities of Mother Nature’s devastation.

These images and videos showcase the human cost of natural disasters—heartbreaking scenes of families separated, homes reduced to splintered debris, and the emotional toll faced by the survivors.

This coverage is vital for raising awareness of these tragic events and inspiring collective action.

This article shows you how to document natural disasters safely and responsibly with a camera, including how to approach disaster victims with compassion and empathy.

Don’t Put Yourself or Others at Risk

Credit: Sippakorn Yamkasikorn

Before anything, always prioritize your safety and the safety of others. Don’t put yourself at risk to capture photos or videos. Natural disasters are unpredictable, and you never know what Mother Nature might throw at unsuspecting onlookers.

Remember that natural disasters often appear less threatening from a distance.

Wildfires, for example, can travel quite quickly at the rate of up to 14.27 miles per hour, more than double the average human jogging speed at 4 to 6 miles per hour. Wildfires can outrun even a fit person.

The same is said for hurricanes. From a distance, a hurricane may appear like a slow-moving threat. This can give videographers a false sense of security, leading them to believe they have ample time to document the event before it becomes dangerous.

Don’t make this mistake. It might be tempting to capture videos of natural disasters up close and as they unfold, but no amount of documentation is worth putting your life at risk.

Always err on the side of caution during natural events. Avoid flooded areas, unstable structures, and downed power lines, and follow evacuation orders to the T.

Remember that strong winds can turn loose objects into dangerous projectiles, and weakened buildings can collapse without warning. So even if the area looks safe, there’s always the possibility of hidden dangers.

Use Remote Cameras or Drones

Aerial view of a flooded area, showing submerged houses, roads, and a large building, with muddy water covering the landscape.

Credit: Pok Rie

If available, utilize remote cameras or drones to document natural disasters from a safe distance.

Remote cameras can capture a close-up shot of the natural disaster as it’s unfolding, offering a visceral perspective that would otherwise be impossible to safely achieve from the ground.

Drones, on the other hand, provide aerial views of dangerous or hard-to-access disaster zones, like areas surrounded by volcanic ash, collapsed buildings after an earthquake, or flood zones with roaring currents.

If you have access to either a remote camera or a drone, consider contacting local authorities or disaster relief organizations. You can use these real-time videos to help emergency responders assess damage, locate survivors, and plan safe rescue routes.

Document Chronologically

Two images showing urban flooding: left image with cars driving through flooded street, right image with partially submerged cars by a swollen river.

Credit: Chris Gallagher

If possible, document the progression of events chronologically, from the onset of the disaster to the aftermath.

For example, during a flood, capture early warnings of the impending disaster, like the rising water levels and news reports of home evacuations.

As the situation develops, document floodwaters encroaching on homes and infrastructure, rescue operations, and the response efforts of emergency services.

Finally, as the flood dies down, record the damage it left behind and the recovery efforts of both civilians and rescue services.

Just be mindful of your surroundings because aftermaths of natural disasters can be chaotic and unpredictable.

If not for environmental damage (i.e., fallen power lines, gas leaks, broken glass, uneven ground), you also have to look out for distressed and erratic people who can potentially harm fellow citizens due to immense stress or desperation.

Conduct Interviews

A person stands amid debris, holding a green and yellow umbrella. The background shows damaged structures and fallen palm trees, indicating a recent disaster. The sky is partly cloudy.

Credit: Denniz Futalan

Human perspective matters, sometimes even more so than the environmental aftermath of a natural disaster.

Interviews give a voice to those affected, allowing them to share how the disaster affected their lives. They personalize the disaster’s impact and create a connection between the people affected and the viewers watching at home.

Here are some tips to follow when conducting interviews:

Always Ask Permission First

Don’t point the camera at people and start asking questions out of the blue—this is disrespectful and can potentially create bad blood between you and the interviewee, especially if they’re in distress or overwhelmed.

Be a Good Listener

Let interviewees share their experiences in their own words and don’t interrupt while they’re speaking.

Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to elaborate. Ask how they are, how they’re coping with loss and damage, and their biggest concerns for the future.

Don’t Pressure the Interviewee

Before conducting the interview, let the interviewee know that they’re in control. Inform them that they don’t need to answer all your questions, only those they’re comfortable talking about.

If they’re concerned about how the public would react to their answers, assure them that you can edit their face, voice, or name out of the video if they wish.

Also, watch for physical and verbal cues. If the interviewee appears uncomfortable or hesitant with a question, either proceed with another question or end the interview, thanking them for their time.

Show Empathy

This is especially crucial if you’ve not been affected by the disaster yourself.

Natural disasters can be devastating, and it can take a lot of courage to talk about them.

Put yourself in the victim’s shoes and ask yourself: if he or she were a friend or a family member, how would you want them to be treated?

Don’t Overreact When the Interviewee Shows Strong Emotion

Interviews about traumatic events are often painful and upsetting. Sometimes, even the simplest, most innocent questions can trigger a strong reaction.

An interviewee might cry, get angry, or respond in a way that would otherwise be unacceptable in any other context. When this happens, don’t overreact.

If they’re expressing immense sorrow, offer some water and ask, with tact, if there’s anything you can do to help.

If they get angry at you, apologize for causing them distress (even if it’s not your fault) and subtly look for a way to exit or de-escalate the situation.

Final Thoughts

Documenting natural disasters can be dangerous, especially if you don’t have a professional setup.

Always prioritize your safety over content; no matter how compelling the footage may be, avoid unnecessary risks, and heed official warnings.

The best time to document natural disasters is during the aftermath, once the immediate danger has passed.



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