When In Danger, Tebow?
Some anchors choose rain gear, some umbrellas—but the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore has other methods for battling inclement weather. Reporting from New Orleans, the hurricane vet demonstrated the strength of Hurricane Isaac’s rain and a popular meme when he accidentally Tebowed in the middle of a French Quarter street. We’re just glad he didn’t plank instead.
Al Roker’s Windy Wipeout
The NBC reporter practically invented the hurricane stand-up gone wrong. In this clip from 2005, Al Roker chats with Matt Lauer and Katie Couric while braving extreme rain and wind in Naples, Florida. At first, it seems Roker might pull off the report on Hurricane Wilma, thanks to one of his colleagues who dutifully holds—actually holds—his legs on the ground. But, in the middle of quipping that his pre-weight-loss physique was better suited for crazy weather, Roker loses his footing and wipes out on live TV. Weatherman down!
A Forecast for Falling
Try this for dedication: One reporter wasn’t going to let a little—or a lot—of wind get in the way of his stand-up. During Hurricane Ike, a category 4 storm that hit in 2008, a Weather Channel anchor was swept by a gust of wind into shrubbery mid-report. After literally lying on top of a plant for a few seconds, the anchor resumed the report with a smirk, of course. Sometimes it’s OK to call it quits.
Al Roker’s Hurricane Hug
When Roker isn’t the anchor being held up, he’s doing the holding. The inclement-weather vet lent a hand—or rather his entire body—when he saw another weatherman in need of some help in 2004. As the story goes, Roker was driving by The Weather Channel team in West Palm Beach, Fla., when he saw Mike Seidel struggling. Naturally, Roker stepped in to hold the anchor steady so he could deliver his report. Watch Seidel thank the NBC reporter for showering that day as the two get to know each other a little better, per Roker’s support.
Debris-Dodging in Katrina
Here’s a skill they don’t teach in journalism school: While reporting on Hurricane Katrina, WFOR-TV reporter Brian Andrews had to duck for cover in downtown New Orleans when debris started flying down the street. After making an initial beeline to run toward the storm, the reporter had second thoughts and hid behind a trash can. But it doesn’t end there: Andrews caught a metal pole that was among the debris before finally seeking shelter. Take that, Katrina.
When It’s Time to Seek Shelter
When does a weatherman know it’s time to go inside? When buildings in the shot start falling apart. Mark Boyle was reporting on Hurricane Ike when, unbeknownst to him, the roof flew off of a nearby building. Boyle was giving his stand-up from Galveston Island, Texas when the building went to pieces. “That building right there, it’s probably not going to make it through the night,” he predicted. Turns out it didn’t make it through the report. Talk about bringing a whole new meaning to raising the roof.
Miami Brings the Hurricane Heat
There’s a fine line between reporting on a hurricane and becoming a victim of one. No one knows this better than Jeff Morrow, the Weather Channel correspondent tasked with reporting on Hurricane Wilma in 2005. To show the strength of the gusts in Miami, the anchor stood alongside the intercoastal as wind dragged him through a parking lot in the shot. Eventually, Morrow gave in to the “extremely strong” hurricane and crouched on the ground for cover, but not before stating the obvious, “It’s very hard to stand here.” File this one under completely unnecessary—and totally entertaining.
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