The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "tropical storm" ...
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A Formula For Disaster
This investigation was born out of various follow-ups to stories about the four hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004. The reporters, concerned about how the high number of mobile homes in Tampa Bay held up the hurricanes, decided to investigate how dangerous they really are. The reporters found that most of the homes were built prior to the established safety standards after Hurricane Andrew. The high number of unsafe mobile homes in the Tampa Bay area means the region could face catastrophic damage when hurricanes strike again.
Tags: natural disaster; tropical storm; housing; trailers; mobile homes
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Exclusive Beach Towns Rely on Government Dollars to Rebuild
The ever-expanding definition of federal emergencies and the legacy of risky building along the coast have made disasters into a growing industry. Beach towns and resorts benefit from disasters by using tax-payer relief funds as a form of insurance for their municipal property. These resorts and towns carry very little insurance themselves, because they know that they can rely on federal funds to cover storm damage. The average number of federal disasters has tripled since the 1950s; since then, federal agencies have spent $140 billion. Factors such as loose criteria, lax financial standards and golf course subsidies add to the expense.
Tags: FEMA; hurricane; tropical storm; natural disaster; victim-relief; Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Damage Control; Out of Control
This two-part series on flooding in Houston looks at the relationship between development, city government and the city's flooding problem. City government continues to use outdated flood plans that allow developers to build where they shouldn't, digging inadequate detention ponds and failing to tell homeowners in flood plains that they might want to buy flood insurance.
Tags: floods; FEMA; Federal Emergency Management Agency; developers; FOIA; Harris County Flood Control District; Tropical Storm Frances; floodplain