The Libby Legacy: Deciphering Invisible Threats in a Crisis

Bridging the gap between geological history and emergency public health during Montana’s wildfire season.

Role: Lead Researcher & Ghostwriter

Sector: Public Health / Environmental Advocacy

Core Challenge: Explaining the legacy asbestos has in Libby, Montana.

The Challenge

Libby, Montana, is one of the nation’s worst areas for asbestos contamination, leaving trees with asbestos fibers embedded in their trunks. When a wildfire broke out in the “asbestos forest,” emergency personnel had to take extra precautions while moving quickly. My task was to present the story, explaining the nuanced information in a way that the general public could understand. 

The Solution

Narrative Style: Wrote a news-style article to depict the dangers of asbestos contamination in populated areas that are at risk of wildfires.

Data Presentation: Used the August 2023 fires in the Libby area to detail how dangers persist even today after asbestos use dramatically declined.

Search Engine Friendly: Optimized content for long-tail keywords to help improve visibilty for the client and promote advocacy.

Final Thoughts: This project allowed me to dip back into my journalism background and present a critical story to boost awareness. It was about telling a story and remaining precise.