Anderson Cooper, the renowned CNN anchor, has drawn attention and concern from online viewers after he was struck by debris while delivering a live report on Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane Milton, which recently made landfall in Florida on October 9 as a category three storm, is the second hurricane to impact the state within weeks. The storm brought with it severe winds reaching up to 120 mph and towering waves nearly 30 feet high, leading to significant destruction.
Despite numerous warnings issued prior to the hurricane’s arrival, some residents chose not to evacuate from areas directly in its path.
During his live broadcast from Siesta Key, Florida, Cooper faced fierce winds and relentless rain. Footage quickly circulated on social media showing him valiantly enduring the harsh conditions. At one point during his coverage, he was visibly affected when a piece of debris hit him.
Reacting to this incident on air, Cooper remarked: “Woah! That wasn’t good. We’ll probably go inside shortly.”
The public’s response on social media was swift and critical; many felt that it was irresponsible for Cooper to be reporting under such dangerous circumstances—an opinion echoed by several commentators who believed he would have been safer indoors.
One user expressed their disbelief: “What does putting Anderson Cooper out in a storm achieve? It’s like facing 120 mph winds head-on—get him somewhere safe!”
Another chimed in with concern: “Someone needs to rescue Anderson Cooper from this situation! #HurricaneMilton.”
A third commenter shared their shock at witnessing the incident: “The moment Anderson got hit by flying debris in Bradenton—unbelievable!”
As Hurricane Milton has since weakened into a category one storm, officials continue to issue warnings about potential hazards as it progresses further inland.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized safety measures during this time: “You must shelter in place and hunker down,” he stated firmly. “This storm is here.”
What are your thoughts? Should reporters be covering storms like Hurricane Milton live? Share your opinions below.
