Close Encounter with Tropical Storm Debby in Beaufort: Interview with National Weatherman Justin Michaels

A Close Encounter with Tropical Storm Debby in Beaufort with National Weatherman Justin Michaels

Beaufort – As Tropical Storm Debby ripped through the Southeastern parts of the country, well-known weather personalities were dispatched off to various corners, covering the storm’s progress. Among them was national correspondent Justin Michaels, a familiar face from The Weather Channel, who made base in Beaufort.

With eight years of blizzard chasing and hurricane hunting under his belt, Michaels has seen his fair share of chaotic weather phenomena and their devastating aftermaths. However, it’s not just the meteorological aspect of the events that motivates him. He asserts, “It’s one thing to predict the storms and do the meteorology, which is indeed crucial. But I think it’s just as important to tell the human-impact stories and what people are living through.”

Between Reporting and Understanding the Human Impact

Covering Debby in Beaufort County this week, Michaels stationed himself in the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort and frequently checked the unusually high levels of the Beaufort River from both rain and tides.

When finding stories in weather-stricken communities, Michaels opts for ground-level talks, shooting the breeze with locals at gas stations, restaurants, or simply eavesdropping on conversations. He also doesn’t shy away from some good old door-knocking. His magic lies in making connections, focusing on empathy over reporting, and treading lightly in the lives disrupted by nature’s fury.

Michaels elucidates that natural disasters are worse for people than coping with the most personal tragedies, such as divorce or death. Hence, dealing with them demands great responsibility, care, dignity, and empathy. Being focused on providing assistance rather than just securing a story is paramount.

From Local Stations to National Coverage

Michaels kick-started his television career with an internship at a local Tampa area station. Progressing to Lubbock, Texas, he covered a story about a community’s iconic historic property catching fire. Although no lives were lost in the incident, the community’s emotional reaction to the destruction ignited his passion for telling the human stories within these disasters.

Ever since, there has been no looking back for Michaels, who moved from one big story to another, successively covering Toledo and Cleveland areas before conquering New England, eventually landing a job with the National Weather Service in 2016.

The Unwritten Saga of Debby’s Impact

Covering the impact of Debby on Beaufort isn’t Michaels’ first rodeo. His parents have enjoyed living in Hardeeville for more than 15 years, making him a familiar face in the neighborhood. Still, he says, “The story of Debby is not written yet, I think the pages are just being laid down.”

Moving on to Florence next for coverage, he warned that the ensuing flooding from the heavy rain posed a significant risk to the lives of the residents. With such dedication and resilience, national correspondents like Justin Michaels undoubtedly put a human face to the otherwise dreary meteorology forecasts. Ironically, they make the stormy weather somewhat bearable through their empathetic coverage.