It’s Serious Business

On this cloudy Wednesday morning I was on my way to work and I was thinking about thunderstorms.  Someone on our weather team had sent out some information last night about storm possibilities today, so I was already in “severe weather” mode when I got up this morning.

As I was coming in on 75, I was thinking about some of the craziest weather events that I had been though.  Immediately this one particular storm came to mind – actually instead of storm, I should call it a major rain event.  Some 15 + years ago when I was doing weather in Jonesboro, Arkansas we had this amazing weather system that brought what seemed to be endless amounts of rain.  On the air we were talking about flash flood watches and warnings and how people should be careful and watch for rising waters, etc.  It’s funny how you can “talk” about a weather event on the air all day long, but somehow when you step outside and become part of the weather as it’s happening, it’s an entirely different story. 

Anyway, I had been on the air “talking” about the rain for several hours.  My on air shift was ending and I was asked to take a camera and run up to a small town called Paragould where there had been reports of street flooding. 

What should have been about a 20 minute ride on a two lane road turned into an hour long ride, taking back country roads – literally dirt roads (at this point mud-roads)- to get to this particular part of Paragould that reportedly had “a little street flooding”.

 

Let me tell you – I was astounded!  The entire area was UNDER WATER.  I had to park at least a mile from that particular part of town and literally wade with a camera on my right shoulder and my left arm wrapped around the recorder bag through a part of this town that I almost didn’t recognize.  I slowly kept walking into deeper and deeper water and sort of forget the danger aspect because 1) I was trying to get the story and 2) it was almost like it wasn’t really happening.

 

The water was at my waist. I was shooting off the right shoulder and had moved the recorder bag onto my left shoulder. What a day!  People had gotten out of their cars and were sitting on the top of them.  Police were everywhere.  Things were floating away.  Even sitting here right now thinking about it, it just seems crazy.

It took several days for the water to completely subside and before long everything was back to normal. But to this day, I can still see so vividly in my mind all of that water. 

Sometimes I even forget the power of weather, but on days like today, with dark clouds all around , we all need to remember that we should take threatening weather conditions very seriously.  Please be careful when you’re out and about, and most of all, heed the watches and warnings. 

Oh Yeah…I Forgot

I have just been reminded that I haven’t blogged in more than two months.  Although a gentle reminder, it just illustrates the point … there is a lot going on around here these days! 

I hope you’ve noticed the wonderful new weather graphics we’re using on our shows now.  Our weather producer and the other folks on the CBS Atlanta weather team have worked really hard to create a fantastic new look and an amazing new way for us to bring you this city’s daily weather story.  And you can see it everyday here on CBS Atlanta.  You’ve got to check it out!

We call it virtual weather and I’ll have to admit, being the “stuck in the 80’s – anti technology , non ATM card using” woman that I am – I was a little skeptical at first… but WOW… what a difference…  That’s all I’m going to say… just watch… and you’ll see what I mean.  Our weather shows are awesome!

So what else is going on with me?  I finished my fall semester at Kennesaw State and have started the new Spring session.  See, I’m in graduate school right now getting a master’s in Secondary Education with a specialization in science.  Undoubtedly my high school classmates would have to be resuscitated if someone told them Laura Huckabee was getting a MASTER’S in Science… but not only is it true… it’s really kinda cool.

Last semester I had a Multi-Cultural Literacies class as well as the HARDEST Astronomy class in the world.   This semester I have two classes with probably the more difficult of the two being Physics.   Challenging and time consuming as they are, I’m excited about what all of my classes are giving me to bring to the table every time I stand up and talk weather with you.  It’s great stuff.  

I made no New Year’s Resolutions… but I am trying to decide where to go for this year’s international marathon.  Got any suggestions?  I’m thinking Peru… more on that another time.  Have you ever run a race in a different country?  I’d love to hear about it if you have.

But on that note I need to keep moving, myself.

Have a great week! Be well.