I agree with you whole-heartedly about local news people. Our people here in Charleston are always very calming. We had one weatherman here for years, Charlie Hall, who everyone tuned into when weather got bad.
When Hugo was approaching, they had to drag him out of the control room. He had never left us before and he was crying when they shut Channel Five down. They were downtown at that time and had to evacuate. Their wasn't a single Charlestonian or person in the low country that didn't love and respect that man.
Some of the younger reporters now feel that they have to go out into the storm so that they can get the ratings - sick.
But remember a then-young reporter named Dan Rather who made a name for himself covering hurricane Carla back in 1961? I think he kind of set a pretty bad example....
Well, ours had people in the storm for sure, but they didn't have anybody looking ridiculous like Shep trying to anchor while getting the crap beaten out of him by the wind and rain, that's for sure. I won't forget THAT sight soon, that's for sure. I just wish I'd seen him getting blown down.