CNN's Anderson Cooper was struck by flying debris while reporting live on Hurricane Milton in Bradenton, Florida. Despite the incident, Cooper was unharmed and continued his coverage. The hurricane, having made landfall as a Category 3 storm, caused significant destruction across Florida, including damage to Tropicana Field's roof and power outages affecting over 3 million.
In a dramatic moment captured live on CNN, veteran journalist Anderson Cooper was hit by flying debris while covering the devastating impact of Hurricane Milton in Florida. The incident highlights the dangerous conditions journalists often face while reporting on natural disasters. Despite the scare, Cooper was unharmed and continued to provide updates on the hurricane, which has left a trail of destruction across the state.
While reporting from the shores of the Manatee River in Bradenton, Anderson Cooper was struck by debris as Hurricane Milton unleashed its fury with winds reaching up to 120 mph. The CNN anchor was describing the escalating situation when he was interrupted by a white object hitting his torso, leading him to momentarily pause his report. Despite this, Cooper resumed coverage, emphasizing the severity of the flooding caused by the hurricane [1].
Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, made landfall near Siesta Key, causing widespread destruction. The hurricane damaged infrastructure, including significant damage to Tropicana Field and a construction crane in St. Petersburg. Over 3 million residents were left without power, and the storm was responsible for at least four fatalities. As it moved onto the Atlantic Ocean, it weakened but continued to pose a threat to the east coast of Florida [2].
The incident involving Cooper underscores the risks journalists face while covering natural disasters. CNN's Kaitlan Collins reassured viewers of Cooper's safety following the incident, highlighting the network's commitment to the safety of its reporters despite the challenging conditions. This event adds to Cooper's long history of frontline crisis reporting, demonstrating the lengths to which journalists go to bring news to the public [3].
Anderson Cooper's encounter with flying debris during Hurricane Milton's coverage is a stark reminder of the hazards faced by journalists reporting from disaster zones. Despite these dangers, Cooper and his team continued to provide critical updates, showcasing the resilience and dedication of news crews in bringing vital information to the public during emergencies.
"OK, that wasn’t good. We’ll probably go inside shortly." - Anderson Cooper