MY 5 MOST MEMORABLE WEATHER MOMENTS AT NBC40 (PART 2 of 2) For the past eleven years as chief meteorologist of NBC40, Ive seen just about every type of weather mother nature has in her arsenal(except perhaps a confirmed tornado, and a haboob(dust storm)). Youve invited me into your homes each night, or at the very least allowed me to clog up your newsfeed with sometimes seemingly infinite weather posts. Youve allowed me to share my forecasts, thoughts, comments, concerns, criticisms, pictures, video, stories, and almost every aspect of both my professional and personal life with you. Now let me stress...that is NOT changing...and for that I am grateful. But as NBC40 bids South Jersey an unfortunate final farewell this evening, I wanted to share with you my five most memorable NBC40 moments since the start of my watch in 2003. (PART 2 of 2) 3.) Hurricane Irene: For most, it will be remembered as the storm that wasnt, that could have been, that thankfully wasnt as bad as forecast. But it was the first mass evacuation of the South Jersey shore in decades, and the first landfall of a tropical system I presided over as a chief meteorologist. While the worst of Irene fizzled weatherwise, it was the storm that caused my initial Facebook friend explosion. After rapidly reaching the 5,000 friend limit on my personal page that I opened to everyone, I began a fan page. And now 25,400+ strong and growing everyday(30,000+ combined), I am grateful for each and every friend, fan, confidant, follower, viewer, listener, reader, and supporter I have). 2.) June 29-30th, 2012: We all learned a new word that day...derecho. And while Sandy was the worst storm in generations along the shore(and MUCH better forecast too)...our derecho was the most destructive storm in decades across much of Atlantic and Cumberland county mainlands. Both the intensity and the duration of the estimated 100+mph wind gusts that came with the derecho were under forecast(by me and every meteorologist that I know of). I vividly remember experiencing the wrath of the storm from my car in the NBC40 parking lot after midnight that Friday night. And as trees and wires toppled around me, it was the first time that the destructive power of a weather event actually had me scared. Our old Frito-Lay warehouse of a studio may not be much(and dark once again as we had no power...again), but I felt it offered more protection than my car. The electricity did not come back on at NBC40 for about a week, though they did bring in a portable generator to get us back on the air by Monday. It wasnt a traditional newscast, as we had an intricate web of makeshift extension cords, portable lights, flashlights, wires, string, glue, and less than half of our normally already inferior technological and graphical abilities. Not to mention with no air conditioning in a windowless metal building during 100-degree heat that followed the derecho, working conditions werent ideal. But our amazing team persevered under the most dire of circumstances, brought you the news in a time of need, and again fortified my love of the NBC40 team, and of South Jersey. And as the derecho was poorly forecast and lasted less than an hour, it proved a meteorologists job does not end when the forecasting is done(well or poorly). It was the cleanup, the response to the storm, the dissemination of information and assistance to those impacted in the coming hours, days, and weeks where my energy and efforts were directed. Yes, my passion is for the weather, but the derecho reinforced my love for the community in which I live, and for which the weather I forecast affects. 1.) No surprise that Hurricane Sandy is atop the list. But it sits here not due to the forecasting leading up to the storm, which unlike the derecho, were some of the best forecasts Ive made in my professional career. But more notably, it was the week following Sandy that will forever stay with me; As a meteorologist, spending four almost sleepless days in the weather center with blanket storm coverage, getting an occasional cat nap on a cot or on the floor, then witnessing the life-altering destruction the storm left in its wake; As an Ocean City resident at the time, losing possessions to the storm surge and flood waters that damaged my residence. But through it all, seeing South Jersey pull together in a time of need was heartwarming. Witnessing the tremendous outpouring of support and generosity, neighbor helping neighbor, as something bad brought out the best in all of us, was inspirational. Rallying through social media to get the tolls lifted on the Margate Bridge after the storm proved the power of Facebook. Then NBC40 organizing a Sandy drive to collect food, clothes, and supplies for victims...the goal to fill one box truck in a week. We filled one in an hour...or should I say you did...our amazing viewers!!! 14 box trucks in all!!! I remember camping out in a tent in the parking lot on a cold windy night, snow in the air, collecting your generous donations, and driving the trucks all across South Jersey, loading and unloading trucks filled with your generosity. Our viewers have always been the best, and make my job so rewarding and fulfilling. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:41:23 +0000
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