HAPPENED WITH
THIS STORM.
BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN 11 YEARS.
>> Jennifer: PARTICULARLY IF
YOUR U YOU EVER CONSIDER RIDING
OUT A STORM.
WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT.
>> Nikki: THAT IS WHY THE
MORNING, WE'RE GOING TO DO
SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT WE NORMALLY DO HERE.
WE'RE GOING THE TAKE YOU BACK TO
THE BIG BEND AREA OF
FLORIDAAFTER.
>> Vic: THAT AREA WAS
DEVASTATED DURING HERMINE.
MANY ARE ASKING HOW YOU CAN HELP
AND WE'LL TELL YOU HOW TO DO
THAT IN A FEW IMAGE MINUTES.
THE IMAGES ON THE SCREEN GIVE
YOU AN IDEA OF IF SCOPE OF THE
DAMAGE, THE BIG BEND AREA AND
THE PANHANDLE, DAMAGE THAT IT
TOOK FROM HURRICANE HERMINE.
>> Nikki: SOME OF THE VIDEO IS
FROM SKY 4, ALL OF THIS VIDEO
WAS SHOT THE DAY AFTER THE
STORM.
A LOT OF YOU THAT GO TO CEDAR
KEY WILL BE FAMILIAR THIS OR
STEINHATCHE, BECAUSE YOU'LL KNOW
THE AREAS WE'RE LOOKING AT.
WE'RE ALSO SHOWING YOU SOME OF
THE DAMAGE FROM WHEN YOU GUYS
WERE ABLE TO SEE FIRSTHAND.
>>> WE STAYED IN CEDAR KEY THE
FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS AS THE
STORM APPROACHES AND WE STARTED
TO GET THE EFFECTS.
AND THEN MOVED UP TO
STEINHATCHEE THAT IS THE BEACH
FRONT MOTEL.
THAT IS WHERE WE STAYED, VERY
NICE PEOPLE, VERY NICE OWNERSHIP
AND THE WHOLE BOTTOM FLOOR UNDER
WATER.
THINK FOUR TO 5 FEET.
AND THE POOL FELL IN.
>> Nikki: IT JUST COLLAPSED
IN?
>> Vic: GOING TO BE A VERY,
VERY LONG TIME FOR THEM TO
REBUILD.
>> Nikki: IT WILL, JUST TO GET
BACK TO NORMAL, BECAUSE THAT IS
HAPPENING RIGHT BEFORE LABOR DAY
WEEKEND.
THAT IS WHERE THEY MAKE A LOT OF
BREAD AND BUTTER.
>> Vic: MOST OF THESE PLACES
ARE TOURIST TOWNS, THEY RELY O
FISHING, CLAMMING, SCALLOPING
AND TOURISM.
>> Nikki: THE REASON THAT WE
KNEW TO GO THERE IS BECAUSE
PEOPLE FROM THIS COMMUNITY TOLD
US, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A GREAT
PLACE TO GET AWAY.
WE WENT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF
AGO AND STAYED FOR A WEEKEND.
GOT SEE SOME OF THAT.
I WAS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF
THE PLACES THAT YOU WERE
LOOKING.
YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO AGAIN, WE
WANT TO TAKE THIS 9:00 HOUR AND
WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT JUST SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT VIC WAS ABLE
TO EXPERIENCE.
AND ALSO, THAT MATTER.
DELETE S THAT MATT, HIS
PHOTOGRAPHER EXPERIENCED.
HERMINE IS A POST-TROPICAL
CYCLONE.
>> Vic: SHE CONTINUES TO
WANDER ABOVE THE COAST.
CONTINUETOLOGY IMPACT AREAS FROM
THE JERSEY COAST TO SOUTHEAST
NEW ENGLAND.
THAT WILL SEE BEACH EROSION OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS THE
WINDS ARE STARTING TO LESSEN,
BUT THE WINDS NEAR THE COAST ARE
STILL STRONG.
IN SOME AREAS TROPICAL STORM
FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED.
>>> SO CLOSE OVER THE HOME, FIVE
DAYS AFTER HERMINE HIT FLORIDA.
AND THE BIG BENDS AREA ARE STILL
WITHOUT POWER.
CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING WITHOUT
POWER FOR A WEEK.
M LOOK AT THIS IN FUELED A FIRE
AT A MANSION IN RHODE ISLAND.
CREWS WENT TO THIS FIVE-BEDROOM,
FIVE-BATH HOUSE AFTER THIS FIRE
BROKE OUT MONDAY NIGHT.
>>> NO ONE WAS INSIDE AT THE
TIME.
THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS.
A CARETAKER ON THE GROUNDS FIRST
NOTICED THE CLAIMS.
STRONG WINDS FROM HERMINE
COUPLED WITH "WATER PROBLEMS
MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR
FIREFIGHTERS TO CONTROL THOSE
FLAMES.
>>> IF TWO-STORY HOME AND
SURROUNDING TWO-ACRE SPROPT
WORTH MORE THAN $3 MILLION.
AND JUST BY HEARING THAT THERE
WAS A CARETAKEER, IT COULD HAVE
BEEN SOMEONE'S VACATION HOME
THAT WAS DESTROYED.
WE'RE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF
HERMINE.
BUT YOU GUYS WERE THERE WHEN IT
STARTED.
>> Vic: YES, YES.
THIS IS MATT, HE'S ONE OF OUR
VETERAN PHOTOGRAPHERS, PHOTO
JOURNALIST THAT I HAD THE
PLEASURE OF SPENDING ALMOST FIVE
DAYS WITHU WE WERE ON THE ROAD.
>> A LONG FIVE DAYS.
>> A LOCK FIVE DAYS.
I THINK OUR LONGEST WORK DAY WAS
30 TO 31 HOURS.
>> Nikki: WE WERE HEARING AT
ONE POINT -- AND BY THE WAY HE
GOES BY IF NAME SLUGO IF WE
REFER TO HIM IN TALKING.
MATT WAS TAKING CAT NAPS YOU'RE
DOING PHONERS.
LET'S START, LET'S START FROM
THE BEGINNING.
WE'VE OBVIOUSLY TALKED ANT JUST
HOW DEVASTATED THE BIG BEND AREA
AND PANHANDLE WAS BY HERMINE.
WE WANTED TO KIND OF WALK YOU
THROUGH SOME VIDEO OVER THE NEXT
FEW MINUTES FROM AFTER THE STORM
HIT.
>>> WE FLEW OUR HELICOPTER SKY 4
OVER AND SOME OF SO IS FROM
STEINHATCHEE SOME FROM CEDAR
KEY.
WE STARTED IN CEDAR KEY AS THE
STOR APPROACHED.
>> Nikki: THAT'S THAT
RESTAURANT THAT IS TORN APART.
>> WHEN WE HAD FIRST COME THE
CEDAR KEY WE HAD GONE OVER THAT
BRIDGE AND THE STRUCTURE WAS
STANDING, IT WAS PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE.
AND TO SEE THAT NOW IS SAD.
>> Vic: YOU CAN SEE THEM URCHG
HERRING DOWN, THEY SHUT OFF THE
WATER, THEY SHUT OFF THE
ELECTRICITY ASK, BOARDED UP AND
DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO
PREPARE.
>>> WHEN I LOOK AT THAT, THAT IS
A JOB FOR PEOPLE THIS THAT SMALL
AREA.
THEY ONLY HAVE ONE GROCERY STORE
AND IT IS A TINY LITTLE GROCERY
STORE.
I MEAN THINK OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE
A NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY STORE
THAT IS THEIR GROCERY STORE FOR
CEDAR KEY.
>> Vic: AND THE OWNERS LIVE
THERE ON THE ISLAND.
ONE GROCERY STORE, ONE GAS
STATION.
AND PEOPLE HAD TO RUSH TO THOSE
PLACES FOR THEIR SUPPLIES.
>> Nikki: I KNOW THEY DID.
SO TO SEE THIS IN PERSON BECAUSE
WE'RE SEEING FRIT THE AIR, OF
COURSE IT LOOKS BAD BUT WE'RE
ONLY SEEING A SMALL SECTION OF
WHAT YOU SAW FROM THE GROUND.
>> THE DEVASTATION RIGHT NOW
DEFINITELY DOESN'T DO IT
JUSTICE.
YOU CAN GET THE BROADER PICTURE
BY SEEING THE AERIALS THERE, BUT
TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND WHERE IT
IS NOW, IS JUST HEARTBREAKING.
WE CAME IN AND A LOT OF THESE
PEOPLE WERE PREPARING FOR THE
WORST AND THE WORST HAPPENED.
>> Nikki: YOU THINK CATEGORY
ONE, YOU KNOW AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE HERE WERE POSTING AND
SAYING, YOU KNOW, MAKING JOKES
ABOUT IT, BUT A CATEGORY ONE IN
AN AREA LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY
WHERE I KNOW SOME OF THE HOUSES,
THE ONE REWENT WE RENTED YOU
COULD WALK UP AND DOWN THE
STAIRS AND IT SHOULD SHAKE, IT
IS NOT LIKE IT IS THE SOUNDEST
OF STRUCTURES.
>> Vic: THE PEOPLE DID
EVERYTHING THEY COULD DO TO
PREPARE, THEY SANDBAGGED AND
BOARDED UP THEIR WINDOWS AND
DOORS.
IT UPSET US TO SEE PEOPLE HERE
IN JACKSONVILLE SAYING, THE
STORM WAS NOTHING.
EVEN A BIG MAJOR BAR AT THE
BEACH WAS DENOUNCING OUR STORM
COVERAGE AND ALL THAT.
AND YEAH, JACKSONVILLE GOT VERY,
VERY LUCKY.
NEM NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA INCREDIBLY
FORTUNATE IT WASN'T ANY WORSE.
BUT IF YOU GO OTWO, THREE HOURS
OVER WESTING.
IT REALLY WAS BAD.
WE SAW PEOPLE WHO LOST
EVERYTHING.
PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE
THEY LOST THEIR HOMES, CARS AND
BELONGINGS.
>> Nikki: IT WAS FRUSTRATING
FOR US TOO, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING, MAYBE WE'RE
BLOWING IT OUT OF PROPORTION.
BUT WE'RE NOT.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SEE THIS AND
THE AFTER-EFFECTS.
WHEN YOU WERE IN CEDAR KEY, YOU
SHARED PICTURES FROM THE HOTEL.
I HAVE COVERED UP TO A CATEGORY
3 HURRICANE.
WHENN THEY MOVE YOU OUT AND WHEN
THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU
SHOULDN'T STAY HERE AND THE
POLICE ARE ACTUALLY MOVING YOU
OUT, YOU KNOW THAT IT IS
SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT IS COMING,
THEY USUALLY LET THE MEDIA STAY
IF THEY FEEL YOU'RE GOING THE BE
ALL RIGHT.
>>> BY THE WAY, THEY DIDN'T TELL
YOU, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.
THEY SAID YOU WANT TO LEAVE.
>> Nikki: THAT WAS THE
LANGUAGE.
>> Vic: THEY SAID WE RESPECT
YOUR RIGHT THE BE ON AIR, BUT WE
KNOW THIS AREA, AND WE'RE GOING
TO GO.
WE'RE GOING GO TO AN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
THIS WAS IN STEINHATCHEE.
THIS IS CEDAR KEY, THE
AFTERMATH.
CEDAR KEY ACTUALLY DIDN'T GET
HIT BY T EYEWALL BUT STILL THE
STORM SURGE WAS SO BAD AND THE
WINDS WERE SO BAD WE HAD ALL
THIS DAMAGE.
>> Nikki: THIS IS ALL THE
WATER IN THERE.
>> Vic: THIS IS THE MOTEL WE
STAYED AT AND WE LEFT THE DAY
THAT THE HURRICANE HIT
STEINHATCHEE.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE
WHERE THE POOL COLLAPSED THE
BALCONY RIGHT BESIDES IT IT
SHOWS YOU HOW CLOSE THAT GO
>>> AND YOU'RE TALKING 4 OR FIVE
FEET OF WATER THERE AS WELL.
IT IS NOTHING THAT YOU WANT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY
RISKS, BECAU IF ANYTHING I'M
SEEING THE CINDE BLOCKS.
ONE THING YOU DID SHOW REALLY TO
OUR VIEWERS IS WHAT WAS
HAPPENING IN THE BIG BEND WUD
YOU WERE POSTING VIDEO TO
FACEBOOK.
AND I THINK THAT WAS SO CRUCIAL.
YOU SHARED ONE THAT WAS, I
THINK, JUST AS THE EYEWALL WAS
COMING IN.
>> Vic: YEAH, WE HAD SOME TIME
WHEN WE WERE OFF THE AIR ON
CHANNEL 4.
I WENT TO FACEBOOK LIVE AND IT
SHOWED THE POWER.
AND THAT WAST BEHIND THE CAMERA
SHOWING THE FURY OF HERMINE.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING TO MESS
AROUND WITH.
>> IT WASN'T, IT CAME UP
QUICKLY.
IT SURPRISED US AT HOW FAST IT
MOVED IN.
WE STARTED TO DO OUR 10:00 SHOT
AND WE HAD BEEN LIVE THROUGH
MOST OF THE MORNING OR EVENING
THERE.
AND JUST THE POWER OF THIS
STORM, THE SURGE THE WIND, THE
LIGHTNING, EVEN THE SPIN-OFF
TORNADOES THAT WERE HAPPENING
JUST CAUGHT US OFF GUARD AND WE
HEEDED THE WARNINGS OF THE FIRST
RESPONDERS.
>> Vic: BECAME A GHOST TOWN.
LET ME TELL YOU, THERE WERE
TIMES WHEN MATT AND I LOOKED AT
EACH OTHER AND SAID, HEY IF A
TORNADO COMES THROUGH WE HAVE TO
LOOK AROUND, THERE WASN'T A REAL
SAFE ONE PLACE WE WERE GOING TO
GO, BUT MATT AND I HAD TO TAKE A
MINUTE FROM OUR COVERAGE AND SAY
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO,
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
>> Nikki: WE WANT TO PLAY THAT
VIDEO FOR YOU NOW.
THIS IS THE FACEBOOK VIDEO.
>>> VIC MICOLUCCI HERE,
HURRICANE HERMINE REALLY HITTING
US HARD HERE IN STEINHATCHEE,
FLORIDA.
[ INAUDIBLE
WE ARE AT THE SEA HAG MARINA.
LET ME TURN AROUND.
ALL THE WAY OUT HERE THE STORM
SURGE COULD BE AS HIGH AS NINE
FEET.
WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF WIND, A
LOT OF RAIN.
JUST PULLED THE PHONE OUT TO BE
THIS FACEBOOK LIVE.
LOOK DOWN THERE, THOUGH.
THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE
ICEBERG, ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS.
TWO TORNADOES HAVE ALREADY
TOUCHED DOWN IN THE STEINHATCHEE
AREA.
TWO OF THEM, ONE VERY, VERY
CLOSE THE WHERE WE ARE
BROADCASTING LIVE.
TAYLOR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
PATROLLING AROUND HERE.
>> Nikki: RICHARD IS OVER HERE
ON THE STUDIO AND SAYING THEY
WERE ON THE STRONG SIDE OF THE
STORM.
NOT DIRECTLY ON THE EYE BUT ON
THE STRONG SIDE OF IT.
>> Nikki: WOW, I'M SURPRISED
DID YOU HAVE A WATERPROOF CASE
ON YOUR PHONE.
>> Vic: NO, NO, MY PHONE WENT
OUT FOR A LITTLE BIT AND SOMEHOW
WEATHERED THE STORM.
THIS PLACE, THE WATER CAME IN
VERY QUICKLY.
AND IT WAS GETTING HIGHER BY THE
MINUTE.
AND THAT WAS SHORT BEFORE
ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER THAT,
SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAME A SAID,
MAWD MATT LOADED UP THE TRUCK
AND WE WENT TO AN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
>> Nikki: AFTER YOU POSTED
THAT YOU WERE LOCKED DOWN AT THE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND WE HAVE THAT VIDEO AS WELL.
>> Vic: THIS IS WHERE THE
TAYLOR COUNTY'S SHERIFF'S OFFICE
IS BASING THEIR STEINHATCHEE
EFFORTS AND ALSO WHERE FIR
RESCUE IS GOT THE UNIVERSITY OF
FLORIDA WEATHER RESEARCHERS
HERE, GO GATORS.
THEY'RE TIRED BUT WORK HARD.
THEY PUT OUT A NUMBER OF WHAT
WOULD YOU CAL THEM, BEACON?
WEATHER STATIONS AROUND, ALL
AROUND AND THEY'RE MONITORING
THE CONDITIONS, LOOKING AT THE
GUSTS REALLY LOOKING AT URBAN
WIND STRENGTH.
>> Nikki: SO I KNOW WHEN YOU
WERE THERE AND THE TWO OF YOU
ARE SO -- THEY'RE JUST -- IF YOU
DON'T KNOW VIC OR MATT
PERSONALLY, I CAN TELL
OUTTHEY'RE TWO OF THE NICEST
PEOPLE.
AND SO I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE
E-MAILS COMING IN THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN SENDING OUT ABOUT THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL REACHING
OUT TO YOU.
YOU EXCHANGED NUMBERS WITH AND
SAID, HEY, WE REALLY WANT TO
HELP YOU AND THEY'RE REALLY
RELYING ON THE TWO OF YOU FOR
HELP.
THEY'RE JUST IN TROUBLE RIGHT
NOW.
>>> THERE ARE NOT TV STATIONS IN
STEINLATCHEE OR CEDAR KEY.
THEY'RE ASKING IF THEY'RE GOING
TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM FEMA,
ASKING IF THE GOVERNMENT IS
COMING IN.
WE'RE WORKING TO THE GET THE
ANSWERS RIGHT NOW.
WE MET SO MANY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE
THAT LOST EVERYTHING WERE SO
OPTIMISTIC AND SO KIND AND SO
LOVING AND THEY WOULD GIVE YOU
THE SHIRTS OFF THEIR BACK.
>> Nikki: COMING UP, WE'RE
GOING TO TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN
HELP, MATT, BY THE WAY THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU HOW YOU