Hurricane Milton is currently wreaking havoc across Florida, and it’s proving to be a formidable force.
The storm has already claimed lives, destroyed homes and left many residents without power. As officials work tirelessly to evacuate those in the hurricane’s path, others are glued to the news for updates on the devastation unfolding in the Sunshine State. Naturally, news reporters have flocked to the area, putting themselves right in the storm’s trajectory.
Some reporters have checked in with locals who gained viral attention during the hurricane, while others have had firsthand encounters with the severe conditions. One such reporter, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, found himself in the thick of it. While reporting live from Bradenton, Florida, Cooper was struck by flying debris as he described the floodwaters engulfing the area.
Cooper, fortunately, wasn’t seriously hurt, although he did acknowledge the hit on air, saying, “Okay, that wasn’t good,” and hinted it might be time to move to safety. “We’ll probably go inside shortly, but you can see the amount of water here on the ground,” he added.
Back in the studio, his colleague Kaitlan Collins reassured viewers that “Anderson is okay” despite the difficulty in maintaining a clear connection. Many viewers questioned the necessity of putting reporters in such risky situations, calling it “beyond stupid” and noting, “we don’t need to see a reporter risk his/her life to show what strong wind looks like.”
Some agreed, urging Cooper to “get the hell out” of the storm’s path, pointing out that “we have remote cameras that can tell us this.” Others wondered if this type of reporting could unnecessarily “risk local resources” in case the reporters needed to be rescued.
Anderson Cooper is not the first journalist to have a close encounter with dangerous weather. Sky News reporter Ashna Hurynag got hit by a wave while covering Storm Eunice in the UK, ironically while advising people to stay indoors. Similarly, sports reporter Mark Woodley found himself stuck in a blizzard, filling in as a weatherman. He humorously complained that he was doing the very thing he advised others to avoid: standing out in extreme conditions.
Stay safe.
