Caught Off Guard
It was a dark and stormy night…
More than six inches of rain was dumped on the Shreveport-Bossier area in less than two hours last night, catching hundreds of motorists off guard. I pulled over into a parking lot and did a live phone report for the 10 p.m. news from the Broadmoor area. I was stranded.
With help from a Chuck Norris-like boyfriend (an off-duty firefighter/EMT), who was able to roundhouse kick the floodwaters into oblivion and pick me up in a truck, I left my car in the parking lot and headed out with my video camera. See above.
We then picked up a girl on Pennsylvania who was stuck in a driveway and took her home.
When we got back to the station (typical well-oiled machine chaos–reporters, editors, producers, photogs…gettin’ it done), The Boyfriend took Rob Brennan and Gerry May out in his truck for more news coverage while I helped write scripts and get video on our website.
Our crews worked through the night, as did first responders, reacting to incident after incident. Back at it again today.
May 14th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
wondering how many people were “stranded” at the cub last night?
May 14th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I have to say, everyone at KTBS did a great job working as a team last night! Fletch stayed into the wee hours of the morning to help people out and covered some apartments being destroyed (on his birthday!!!).
Hats off to the team coverage, and get ready…. ROUND 2 MAY BE TONIGHT!!!!
May 14th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
G, that’s one way to keep people from drinking and driving.
We’ll have a special one hour newscast this evening beginning at 4:30 p.m. on the flooding and its effects on the area.
May 14th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I’m sure the poor girl at Pennsylvania St. was grateful! I heard it got ROUGH over there. What a great boyfriend you have to help you with all this disaster relief.
Some birthday for Fleth, huh? BIG thanks go out to Rob and Fletch both for their efforts last night as well.
To all of you at KTBS….. THANKS AGAIN for being “On our side”.
May 14th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
That’s the difference between you and me. You asked if those people were ok. I would have sped up in an attempt to splash them.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Did FEMA respond? Were folks rescued from roof tops by the coast guard and the city evacuated and everyone fled to Houston where they will live off government subsidised housing while they ungratefully double the crime rate of their generous host city while spending food and housing money on booze, strippers and tennis shoes…..sorry, I’m thinking of another city….nevermind.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Tennis shoes? Were they Mizuno Wave Creations? I’ll be right over.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Seriously, sing it, Bro…more? And have you seen people actually helped by the generosity of Houston?
May 14th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Houston rose to the needs, and HPD has done a good job putting a cap on the crime here. My point is…. it seems that the fine citizens of Shreveport somehow are able to come together and take care of themselves.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
There’s no way to compare the magnitude of what happened in these two cities. Although, a producer, upon seeing the video I brought back last night of people stranded roadside for hours, said, “It seems like a mini-Katrina.”
I will say, I think everyone in the country learned something from Katrina. Shreveport officials held a news conference tonight talking about what they did and how they could do things better. I’m not so sure that would have happened had it not been for Katrina and the mistakes of others.
Regardless, I’m proud of how Shreveport and its citizens handled this.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Word.
May 15th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I was schocked to see Fletch on the morning show doing a news story but he was fab. Went to Mall St. Vincent last night and everyone’s furniture in Normanday Village was outise drying. There were still cars stuck in odd positions and on Gilbert between Ockley and E. 70th everyone’s indoor carpet was outside. Very wild.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
When the sports team is out covering news you know the world is coming to an end! But seriously… Not to offend anyone else at the station who deserves recognition, because you all do… But I think the sports team should be properly recognized for the talent that they truly are. Not everyone realizes how multi-faceted their talent is…
May 16th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
It’s a terrbile shame that so many lives were affected by the storms. And, I am very sad for all of the people who’s homes were lost (and pets, too www.chrissicoilecom).
But, I must say, as someone who witnessed and even got in on the action–I felt blessed to see how well people came together in the time of need. Rob Brennan (weekend sports anchor) jumped at the opportunity to answer phones and listen to the scanner and help make assignments, Fletcher took a camera out in the flood and turned very intriguing news stories, Redford came in to report… Sherri- you and the bf did so much– as well as Gerry sticking around after the show-
I’m sorry-this is so long- but, it was such a beautiful experience to see how everyone came together to cover the flood. I was really proud of you all. It definitely made me miss that place! HAHA! I love you all… GREAT JOB!