The 2022 hurricane season comes to an official close today, with late-season Hurricanes Ian and Nicole unleashing devastating and deadly storms that wreaked havoc across the Southeast.   

The loss of life and destruction of personal property was widespread. But so were the countless inspiring human-interest stories amid the tragedy. As always, when hardship hit the U.S., the best in our fellow citizens shined through.     

Traditional first responders — police, fire, National Guard, EMTs, doctors and nurses — rose to the occasion for the victims of Ian and Nicole and their work continues today. These heroes put the safety and well-being of the community ahead of everything else, including their own families. These brave and selfless men and women not only deserve our recognition, but they also command our respect.

Another critically important group that unites our communities during crises, including natural disasters such as Ian and Nicole, are local television and radio broadcasters. In the cases of Ian and Nicole, it was the local radio and television broadcasters in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina who were there for their communities as the storms unleashed their fury. 

When the residents of these states needed credible information on Ian and Nicole, local broadcasters provided it in a way no one-person blog, social media site or non-local media entity or search engine could ever accomplish. The advanced weather technology and early-warning systems provided by local broadcasters enabled millions of residents to find safe havens, saving lives in the process. Only local broadcasters and local meteorologists were able to talk to the specific neighborhoods and towns in the path of both storms, allowing people to move to safer ground and find lodging, food and other provisions.  

Local broadcasters were at the forefront to educate, inform, comfort, console and, most importantly, protect the public before, during and after Ian and Nicole hit. Their broadcast signals were the epicenter of crucial news and information for millions of people. When their communities needed them most, local broadcasters responded with multilingual, commercial-free, and around-the-clock coverage on their linear, digital, streaming and social media platforms.

Local broadcasts surpassed anything the national media could provide because these storms were, in essence, local stories. Trusted television and radio brands and personalities were what people needed, and the local broadcasters of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina were there for them at every turn. Perhaps most importantly, local broadcasters live in the markets they serve and are still there serving their communities long after the cable news networks leave town. As always, local broadcasters are there for their communities for the short and long haul.

It’s inevitable that we will face future natural (and unnatural) disasters. Wherever and whenever they might happen, local television and radio broadcasters will be there, ready with their people, journalism and array of platforms to provide the most trusted and comprehensive service to the local community and the nation. ■

WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami, has named meteorologist Michael Lowry as its new Hurricane Specialist and Storm Surge Expert.

Lowry joins the station from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where he guided the agency‘s plans for responding to disasters including hurricanes. He replaces Bryan Norcross, who joined Fox Weather.

WPLG said Lowry becomes part of the largest team of meteorologists at any station in South Florida. The team is led by chief certified meteorologist Betty Davis.

“No other station in South Florida has a full-time hurricane specialist and storm surge expert on staff, it is part of our Weather Authority brand, and our viewers know they can tune in to us for credible, accurate hurricane information,” said WPLG CEO and president Bert Medina. 

WPLG has a history of reporting on hurricane activity going back to the days when Bob Sheets, former director of the National Hurricane Center, provided on-air hurricane forecasts for the station. He was succeeded by Max Mayfield, another former director of the NHC. 

Lowry grew up in New Orleans and had a childhood fascination with weather and hurricanes. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in meteorology at Florida State University. 

He worked for the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Department of Defense before becoming lead scientist at the National Hurricane Center.

Lowry left the National Hurricane Center to become the hurricane specialist and storm surge expert for The Weather Channel. 

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Local 10 family and to be able to bring my passion and expertise in hurricanes and tropical meteorology back to the South Florida community,“ Lowry said. ”Florida is the most hurricane-prone state in the country, and with rising seas and more people and infrastructure at the coast than ever before, the hurricane risk to South Florida has never been greater.

“The legacy of WPLG’s commitment to hurricane expertise is profound — most recently with former NHC director Max Mayfield and longtime hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross, both former colleagues, friends and mentors,” he added. “I look forward to continuing this tradition of bringing state-of-the-art science and forecasts to the viewers with Betty and the incomparable team at WPLG beginning with the 2022 hurricane season.” ■

Fox News Media said it plans to launch an advertising-supported streaming weather service called Fox Weather in the third quarter of 2021.

The move comes amid media companies rushing to streaming. It will also follow an election year that boosted cable new ratings. It will challenge incumbents including The Weather Channel and AccuWeather.

Sharri Berg, currently COO of News and Operations for Fox Television Stations, will also serve as president of Fox Weather. She will give up her role as executive VP of news operating for Fox News Channel.

Berg will report to Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media.

“It was only natural to expand our footprint to weather with the launch of our eighth platform, Fox Weather and there is no one better to lead this new venture than Sharri Berg,” said Scott. “Sharri is an immensely talented executive with extraordinary leadership skills and a unique ability to collaborate and execute across multiple divisions.”

Berg has been with Fox News Channel since its launch. 

“Weather is a vital component to news and combining our trusted reporters and expert meteorologists from Fox News and FTS nationwide, the Fox Weather products will be built to serve our audiences in a customized fashion. I’m excited to get started as we continue to innovate and build new products from the ground up.”

Fox Weather will debut with the Fox Weather App in the third quarter of 2021. There will also be an integrated website and streaming service featuring local, regional and national updates as well as live programming.

Between Fox News and the Fox TV stations, there are more than 75 meteorologists already on staff. The New York-based Fox Weather Meteorological Center will integrate the Fox Television Stations radar network, display technology and weather experts to cover major weather events and provide local updates.