How to protect your pets during storms
Lauree Simmons, founder and CEO of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, shares tips on how to keep your pets safe during storms.
(The story has been updated to add new information.)
Now you know that Tropical Storm Helene is serious. Jim Cantore has been deployed.
The meteorologist and famous hurricane forecaster is currently on Florida’s west coast and will be reporting from Port Richey, according to a social media post from the Weather Channel, although he had not posted any updates from Florida as of early Tuesday afternoon.
Tropical Storm Helene, which formed Tuesday morning, is expected to become a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida coast sometime Thursday. AccuWeather meteorologists have said it could be a powerful Category 3 hurricane by that time, bringing life-threatening storm surge and winds of up to 115 mph.
For some disillusioned Floridians, storms are simply nothing to worry about until someone spots Cantore.
“Damn Jim Cantore was just spotted at 54 and 19 at a Wawa in Pasco County… go away Jim,” Fn Richard Cranium posted on X, formerly Twitter, Tuesday afternoon.
User Katarina posted: “Uh oh Jim Cantore is in town not far from me we’re going to drown.”
And a user named Hyacinth simply posted a picture of Cantore with the message: “This is Jim Cantore. You never, ever, ever, ever want him where you live.”
According to Politico reporter Gary Fineart in an X-post, Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, a Panama City native, said he texted Cantore earlier in the week to ask if the storm was heading that way. Patronis said Cantore responded, “Pack your things, I’ll see you soon,” Fineart said.
Who is Jim Cantore?
One of the most well-known meteorologists on television, Cantore, a Connecticut native, has been known as a harbinger of hurricane damage for nearly four decades. He is famous, or perhaps infamous, for his on-site appearances before and especially during major weather events, often putting himself in apparent harm’s way to demonstrate just how dangerous a storm is.
The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore clashes with Ian’s 150 mph winds
Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa, Florida as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), and storm chasers braced for impact.
Anastasiia Riddle, Story Rich
The Weather Channel even poked fun at his reputation years ago by running an ad showing beachgoers running away screaming when Cantore arrived on vacation. Cantore has worked for the Weather Channel since graduating from college in 1986.
“When I started at the Weather Channel, I was a gritty young guy who wanted to be there for the worst, but now there’s purpose,” Cantore wrote in 2016. “People expect me to be out there. They expect me to get them through it and tell them when they can go home. It’s a tremendous driving force when you live a purpose-driven life. It’s really a powerful thing. So I feel like I’m that guy. People count on me.
“Maybe one day I won’t think that way anymore, and then I’ll stop,” he said.
Cantore is known for his seemingly risky reporting, but also has a reputation for explaining complicated weather situations in easy-to-understand language. He has also covered the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery, PGA tournaments, NFL games, and even filled in for Al Roker on the Today Show.
While Cantore is heading to the hardest hit areas, he’s choosing places where he can safely stand outside and broadcast. Seeing him where you live is unsettling, but not (necessarily) a bad sign.
Be prepared anyway.
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