New York Times wrote a brilliant piece a few years back about legendary OKC meteorologist Gary England and really how tv meteorologists are revered in bad weather areas. Its nice read about tv broadcasting for the those that know nothing about American TV meteorology and weather in North America.
The Texas Gulf coast is prepping to be impacted by Hurricane Harvey. On the broadcasting front the news channels have given the hurricane a mention but not much. They are all still 24hr Trump coverage. CNN Virtually has no domestic Weather team anymore. As they dont really show/feature weather at all during the day. CNNi and HLN still have on air meteorologists. Chad Meyers seems to be the only one left at CNN Domestic. The other former CNN Meteorologists have crossed the street in Atlanta over to The Weather Channel. Reynolds Wolf and Jackie Jeras are now part of the Weather Channel team. The Weather Channel has gone into rolling coverage. When the hurricane hits they will gone into 24 hr live coverage all day night.
Brownsville is the smallest market in the very bottom of Texas just before your cross the border into Mexico. It will be impacted as well. It will be interesting to see how this small market and the stations there cover this impending disaster. I could only find one stations website with a live stream.
KGBT 4 - CBS
http://valleycentral.com/live
One of their reporters who was live at the time has been on air by herself with no graphics or anyone to talk back to for atleast 30 minutes. The feed has died and now just shows a TVU ID slate.
I'm not sure if they are back "on air" but their Facebook and YouTube streams are up and running. They are coming from the third floor of the Federal Reserve building next door. Someone mentioned they'll come from the local PBS station while their studios get cleaned out. Apparently this is the second time they've been flooded (back in 2001) and it appears they weren't prepared.
PLEASE WATCH THE COVERAGE - The stellar job these reporters and anchors are doing shouldnt be dismissed. Its compelling and heartwrenching to watch. They are professional and calm as the disseminate vital information. Even whilst rain pours down and floods homes and streets and tornadoes continue to drop out the sky. These professionals show their real value producing hours/days of coverage with no autocue running nonstop and continuous.
The coverage from all the Houston stations is heartbreaking and shows the power of and importance of local news and the local reporters and anchors and crews that work at these stations. Over at KTRK ABC 13, one of the photogs bought his camera equipment home and the ground level of his home is flooding. He and his family have retreated to the 2nd floor. With a camera up on his shoulder he showed live footage from the area around his home and the flooded ground floor. He was breaking down at one point, but he kept going still reminding people what they should do. And if they have to get into the attics of their homes they should bring tools with them to break thru the roof. Many of the anchors and reporters have lost their homes and have stayed on the air 24-48 hours or more around the clock, on set and out in the field reporting. True commitment to their city and communities. It shouldn't be denigrated by those that view local news irrelevant or silly.
One reporter on KTRK is just saying he's been stuck on an overpass for 15 hours in the rain. Showing and reporting the water rescues. His is still on the air doing his job. Though you can hear the exhaustion in his voice.
Last edited by Mouseboy33 on 28 August 2017 3:22am - 5 times in total
KHOU retreated to the 2nd level apparently and they created a makeshift studio upstairs. Apparently they lost power and their website,facebook and youtube pages are broadcasting coverage from their sister station WFAA 8 ABC Dallas. They are doing brilliant job filing in for their sister station.
This was their makeshift set after the groundfloor flooded.
CNNs Ed Lavandera just helped rescued 2 elderly people on LIVE on CNN. Apparently the wife suffers from Alzheimers. The house was completely flooded. Really powerful.