FLORIDA, USA — CNN broadcaster Anderson Cooper found himself at the centre of Hurricane Milton’s fury on Wednesday, as he was hit by debris while reporting live from the Florida Gulf Coast.
The 57-year-old journalist was delivering a weather update when the storm’s intense winds sent debris flying toward him.
“The water now is really starting to pour over,” Cooper told viewers while standing in the storm’s pouring rain on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
“If you look at the ground, whoa—,” he began, before being interrupted as debris hit him mid-broadcast.
“Okay, that wasn’t good,” Cooper said, keeping calm in the chaos. “Um, we’ll probably go inside shortly, but you can see the amount of water here on the ground. This is water from the Manatee River.”
Sharing on his Instagram story, Cooper reposted a fan’s message that included a screenshot from his latest CNN segment.
“My longtime crush @andersoncooper! Been following you since high school, starting with Channel One in homeroom. Always love your work, especially your coverage of hurricanes since Katrina. Sending strength to Florida! #StaySafe #WithYouInSpirit,” the fan’s post read.
Safety Reassured
Following the incident, CNN anchor Kaitlin Collins reassured viewers of Cooper’s safety.
“I do want to note that for everyone watching who is very concerned about all of our correspondents and anchors on the ground, Anderson is okay,” she said, adding that the extreme conditions made live reporting difficult.
“And obviously the deteriorating conditions by the minute,” Collins continued.
The Power of Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton made landfall on Wednesday as a powerful Category 3 storm, packing dangerous winds and life-threatening storm surges.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm struck near Siesta Key, Florida, before weakening to a Category 1 as it moved inland, with winds of 90 mph.
“Life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding [are] occurring over the central Florida Peninsula,” the National Hurricane Center wrote in an advisory.
Devastation and Impact
The Associated Press reported that the storm caused significant damage to communities along the Gulf Coast, many of which were still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which hit the region just weeks earlier.
Heavy rain and strong winds left over three million residents without power, and St. Petersburg saw as much as 16 inches of rainfall.
Tragically, St. Lucie County saw multiple fatalities after a tornado ripped through a mobile home retirement community, exacerbating the destruction caused by Hurricane Milton.
Efforts to provide aid and relief to those affected are ongoing.
As Cooper continues his on-the-ground coverage, CNN and viewers remain vigilant as Florida endures another devastating hurricane season.
