More intense wind moments ago in Daytona Beach from @news6wkmg reporter @SachelleOnAir’s shot #Matthew https://t.co/eeOIHtcLpU
— Joshua Chavers (@JoshuaChavers) October 7, 2016
I've covered my fair share of weather in news, more of the blizzard variety.
Extreme Cold.
Extreme Snow.
Frostbite.
More Cold.
More Snow.
Snot running down my frozen nose.
When I found out that I'd be covering a warmer, albeit more violent storm, I was up for the challenge.
Wednesday night, the day before Hurricane Matthew was supposed to begin its trek into Florida, my job, News 6-Orlando put us in teams of two, threw us in locations across the coast, and told us to buckle up for wet, windy, 12+ hour shifts.
My location: Daytona Beach
Extreme Cold.
Extreme Snow.
Frostbite.
More Cold.
More Snow.
Snot running down my frozen nose.
When I found out that I'd be covering a warmer, albeit more violent storm, I was up for the challenge.
Wednesday night, the day before Hurricane Matthew was supposed to begin its trek into Florida, my job, News 6-Orlando put us in teams of two, threw us in locations across the coast, and told us to buckle up for wet, windy, 12+ hour shifts.
My location: Daytona Beach
Beautiful view before the storm hit at my beach-side Hilton hotel.
Fast forward to overnight Thursday, into Friday...
I've been working since 11pm, doing live hits for the show all night. By this point I am wet, tired, and being blown by 60+ mph winds, posted up in front of the Pirate's Cove Hotel, right next to the entrance of the beach. The only thing between me and Hurricane Matthew was one building, and the relative safety of a live truck.
I've been working since 11pm, doing live hits for the show all night. By this point I am wet, tired, and being blown by 60+ mph winds, posted up in front of the Pirate's Cove Hotel, right next to the entrance of the beach. The only thing between me and Hurricane Matthew was one building, and the relative safety of a live truck.
Inside the live truck with super photog Marcus White
Signs were flying off street posts, metal was flying through the air, and the salty water from the ocean left a sting in my eye , and a taste in my mouth. I hear a voice in my ear from the producers(sitting cozily indoors), telling me to get back outside, "we're going to take you for another hit." I'd lost count at how many hits I'd done at that point.
It was then, while waiting for my cue and being pelted by rain and water that I said to myself, "what the hell am I doing?" It was half humorous, half seriousness that I was one of those reporters, standing outside in a freaking hurricane, telling people not to stand outside in a freaking hurricane.
Before I knew, the weatherman tossed to me, asked how I was doing...and this slipped out of my mouth.
It was then, while waiting for my cue and being pelted by rain and water that I said to myself, "what the hell am I doing?" It was half humorous, half seriousness that I was one of those reporters, standing outside in a freaking hurricane, telling people not to stand outside in a freaking hurricane.
Before I knew, the weatherman tossed to me, asked how I was doing...and this slipped out of my mouth.
"Oh, just evaluating my life in front of a concrete block."
I was being my regular sarcastic self, and the internet exploded! Apparently, CNN was taking my live-shots and I had no idea. They posted my story on twitter and all of a sudden I'm sitting in the live truck getting dozens of friend requests and virtual high-fives calling me "bad-ass," "brave," and the reporter "keeping it real." I laughed so hard, (unfortunately not to the bank). But, by the next day people told me they saw me on CNN, HLN, CBS National News, ABC National News, Inside Edition, on news websites, and blogs, and who knows where else.
It was a good fifteen minutes of viral fame, and ultimately we made it out of Daytona safely.
On a more serious note, at least a dozen people have been killed in the U.S. from the storm. There was widespread damage, and flooding along the coast. Sadly, the death toll was even higher in Haiti, more than 800. Pray for all the people involved.
It was a good fifteen minutes of viral fame, and ultimately we made it out of Daytona safely.
On a more serious note, at least a dozen people have been killed in the U.S. from the storm. There was widespread damage, and flooding along the coast. Sadly, the death toll was even higher in Haiti, more than 800. Pray for all the people involved.
Some of the damage right off the beach, condos and small beach stores
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