【2006 Archives】

Brandi Smith006 Archives a reporter for CBS affiliate KHOU in Houston, stood on a highway overpass as floodwaters below engulfed a tractor-trailer.

Smith was live on air reporting on the flooding that continued to devastate the city. The immediate concern, however, was for the driver's safety. Smith, recognizing the situation, flagged down a passing sheriff's deputy, who was able to get help to the driver. She's being credited with saving the man's life.

It's a scene playing out across the city of Houston as flood waters devastate the area. Local journalists have braved dangerous conditions and fought off exhaustion to provide information to city residents—and jumped into action when needed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Houston is currently a disaster area. Rainwater has resulted in the most extensive flooding in any city in the history of the U.S., and forecasts show that plenty more is on the way. It is a worst-case scenario for a flood-prone city. Millions of people have been affected.

It's during times like these that local media becomes crucial—and Houston-based journalists have responded.

Reporters have jumped into action, some facing the most challenging situations.

The office of KHOU, where Smith is a reporter, began to flood, but the station remained on air by moving its broadcast to the second floor of its building. The office eventually had to be evacuated, knocking the channel off air for about seven hours. Reporters remained active, on social media and live on its website.

The station is now back on air, providing 24-hour coverage as are other local TV channels.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Reporters around the city had similar stories. The Houston Chronicle's managing editor told CNN that the paper's "entire editorial staff" has been working, though mostly remote due to travel restrictions and the need to have reporters out in the field.

Local newspapers remain in operation. TheChronicle, the city's largest newspaper, dropped its paywall on Friday.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In addition to providing information, reporters told of the many good samaritans who jumped into action to help people stranded in their houses as flood waters rose. Authorities in Harris County, in which most of Houston sits, called for civilians with boats to aid in rescue efforts.

One such person, who came rom nearby Texas City with a boat, has become something of a symbol of those efforts. When asked what he was there to do by a local reporter, he responded, "I'm going to save some lives."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Other reporters have been integral in stopping the spread of misinformation out of Houston, particularly narratives around looting that tend to spread among right-wing media.

While some fake news has circulated, the massive amount of reporting out of Houston has mostly overwhelmed any bad information.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

There are numerous other examples of journalists working to help people in need of rescue and cover some of the incredible acts taking place. Floodwaters trapped many people in their cars—a dangerous situation that can easily turn life threatening.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Among the reports were plenty of small examples of charity.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The coverage is a reminder of the important role that local media can play, particularly during natural disasters. As newspapers have struggled to remain economically viable, newsrooms have had to operate with fewer reporters. Houston's second-largest paper shut down in 1995 after being acquired by the Chronicle's parent company. By one estimate, half of all jobs in the news industry have been eliminated, with newspapers bearing the brunt of that decline.

But as disasters like this show, it's local journalists who the affected communities depend on for information.