Of all the issues we asked Black Augustans about in a survey to understand their news needs — the economy, housing, education — one issue topped them all: how to be prepared for disasters.

It’s not hard to see why. Augusta sits along the Savannah River and is still recovering from 2024’s Hurricane Helene. The storm tore through the city, toppling trees and powerlines, causing $87 million dollars in damage, and leaving 11 people dead. As with most other issues they identified as important, residents reported being dissatisfied with the emergency preparedness information available to them.

As we prepare to launch in Augusta this fall, we set out to understand the gap between what people consider to be important and their ability to get information about it. In July, we partnered with the Civic Information Needs Census and Embold Research to survey over 500 Black Augustans about their local news and information needs. The survey is part of CINC’s wider effort to understand the information gaps that exist in media deserts across the country.

The Findings

Black Augustans care most about local emergency preparedness, public safety, the local environment, and health and well-being. 

These are the issues Black Augustans rated as most important, and the interviews we conducted back that up. One longtime Augusta resident named crime as a top concern, and pointed to a gap in what her neighborhood offers for outdoor recreational space. Others pointed to flooding, failing infrastructure and a general lack of investment that makes it hard for residents to feel safe and healthy in their city.

Weather also ranked high as an important topic, but residents feel relatively satisfied with their ability to access information on it, which brings us to the next takeaway.

There is a big gap between the issues Black Augustans see as important, and their ability to get information about them. 

Read the full article about local news and disaster preparedness at Capital B News.