"Wow, That’s Intense": Anderson Cooper Hit by Flying Debris While Covering Hurricane Milton .

 

Anderson Cooper found himself in the path of flying debris while covering Hurricane Milton for CNN on Wednesday night. The hurricane, which made landfall with winds reaching 120 mph at Siesta Key, Florida, caused severe damage across the region.

Reporting live from Bradenton, a drenched Cooper described the scene: "The water now is really starting to pour over." Just moments later, a piece of debris struck the 57-year-old journalist in the face. "Woah! That wasn’t good," Cooper exclaimed, before adding, “We’ll probably go inside shortly,” as he continued his coverage of the deadly storm.

The video quickly went viral on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with users reacting to the incident. One user simply commented, “The job,” while another criticized the practice of putting reporters in harm's way, writing, “Unnecessary. Reporters getting blown around in storms has become cliche. It’s dangerous, we get it.” Others expressed concern for Cooper’s safety, with one remarking, "Cooper's dedication to reporting is commendable, but safety comes first."

Cooper is no stranger to extreme weather coverage, having reported on hurricanes like Florence, Sandy, and Katrina. Hurricane Milton, however, has been particularly destructive, with wind speeds up to 120 mph. The storm ripped the roof off Tropicana Field, where first responders had sought refuge.

Other CNN reporters also braved the storm. Bill Weir reported from St. Petersburg, where he battled strong winds and rain, even losing his CNN hat to the storm. Meanwhile, Jim Cantore, a Weather Channel hurricane expert, had to take cover in a parking garage in Port Charlotte to avoid flying debris.

As Hurricane Milton continues to devastate Florida, officials have declared flash flood emergencies, leaving over two million people without power and urging residents to seek higher ground. The storm has already claimed several lives, and conditions are expected to worsen in the coming days.