Best Laid Plans.....
It was a very interesting Monday morning. Initially, my photographer, Paul Lester and I were heading to do a "feature" report for the morning news when a 4 alarm fire broke out in the 2600 block of Adams Mill Road NW. This meant that the live truck that we were going to use was needed to help with fire coverage.
I'm not a hard news reporter Jim, I'm a meteorologist! I actually have had some reporting experience in my career, so I was able to help out a bit. I find that just being naturally curious and listening to what people are saying can make a big difference when reporting.
Jan Fox was our reporter on the scene and I did what I could to help her. I tracked down DC Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin for Jan to interview live during the 6 AM news and then I tried to find some tenants of the building that was on fire.
Understandably, many of the newly displaced residents just didn't want to talk to the news people. Off camera I was told some stories. One lady, whose name I did not get, is a nurse. She's used to being up at this time of night.
Another woman, Caroline Goodwhite, and I had quite a conversation. Maybe it was because of her Tulane Sweatshirt and the fact that I lived in New Orleans for 5 years that I felt a connection. Caroline works for the EPA as a water quality expert and this morning her first floor unit was full of water of questionable quality. She's fine and she has family around since she grew up in the area, so I expect that she'll be OK. She'll be needing a new wardrobe and other stuff, but I'm not worrying about Caroline. I did find it somewhat interesting that Caroline was going to graduate school in New Orleans until Katrina came and closed the school. So, this poor woman has been flooded out and now burned out. I just can't imagine what the future holds for her....
One other thought, last week I wrote about the Red Cross and how they help so many in times of need. They were out in full force this morning offering shelter and assistance to those who were affected. I was also reminded of what I learned just last week; home fires are the number 1 disaster threat for Americans. Please make sure that your valuable papers are in a safe deposit box and that your smoke detectors are in working order.
I'm not a hard news reporter Jim, I'm a meteorologist! I actually have had some reporting experience in my career, so I was able to help out a bit. I find that just being naturally curious and listening to what people are saying can make a big difference when reporting.
Jan Fox was our reporter on the scene and I did what I could to help her. I tracked down DC Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin for Jan to interview live during the 6 AM news and then I tried to find some tenants of the building that was on fire.
Understandably, many of the newly displaced residents just didn't want to talk to the news people. Off camera I was told some stories. One lady, whose name I did not get, is a nurse. She's used to being up at this time of night.
Another woman, Caroline Goodwhite, and I had quite a conversation. Maybe it was because of her Tulane Sweatshirt and the fact that I lived in New Orleans for 5 years that I felt a connection. Caroline works for the EPA as a water quality expert and this morning her first floor unit was full of water of questionable quality. She's fine and she has family around since she grew up in the area, so I expect that she'll be OK. She'll be needing a new wardrobe and other stuff, but I'm not worrying about Caroline. I did find it somewhat interesting that Caroline was going to graduate school in New Orleans until Katrina came and closed the school. So, this poor woman has been flooded out and now burned out. I just can't imagine what the future holds for her....
One other thought, last week I wrote about the Red Cross and how they help so many in times of need. They were out in full force this morning offering shelter and assistance to those who were affected. I was also reminded of what I learned just last week; home fires are the number 1 disaster threat for Americans. Please make sure that your valuable papers are in a safe deposit box and that your smoke detectors are in working order.
posted by Howard Bernstein, 9 Weather Now at
8:51 AM
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