Meteorologist Jamie Simpson. Screen grab via Fox 45.
When it comes to dangerous weather conditions, just do one thing: Stop complaining about the interruptions to your favorite TV programming and listen to your local meteorologist.
That’s the message one Ohio weatherman had after viewers expressed their frustration on social media about how his network’s coverage of tornado events interfered with their TV shows:
Speaking live on-air, Fox 45’s Jamie Simpson lectured viewers on the ferocity of the storm and the danger it posed to Dayton, Ohio, and the surrounding area while dismissing calls for the channel to resume broadcasting “The Bachelorette.”
“Viewers are complaining already, ‘Just go back to the show.’ No. We’re not going back to the show, folks. This is a dangerous situation, OK? Think about if it was your neighborhood,” Simpson told local viewers.
“I’m sick and tired of people complaining about this. Our job here is to keep people safe and that’s what we’re going to do. Some people complaining that it’s all about my ego — stop. Just stop right now. It’s not. I’m done with you people. I really am,” he continued, adding: “This is pathetic.”
Watch video of Simpson’s rant below:
Fox News senior meteorologist Janice Dean provided some good advice in the aftermath:
If your local meteorologist is breaking into your favorite tv show to deliver a #TORNADOWARNING it’s to try to save lives not to “ruin” your evening. They’d rather be enjoying a long weekend with their families, but went into work to help others. They deserve a big #ThankYou
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) May 28, 2019
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Here locally in Charlotte, I often watch WCNC‘s Brad Panovich to get the latest updates when bad weather is in the area. I have seen people complaining during those segments about how they wish the network would return to their regularly scheduled programming.
Network weather forecasters are oftentimes in no-win situations. Either they interrupt programming to alert viewers about weather issues and it ends up being a false alarm, or they don’t and someone ends up getting hurt or worse because they didn’t know what was coming.
Because Simpson’s on-air scolding went viral, apparently media outlets are reaching out to him for comment. He responded to their requests on Twitter:
To all the National media outlets wanting to talk to me:
We had an EF-3/4 tornado last night, more severe possibly the next three days … let me do my job please.— Jamie Simpson (@JamieFOX45Now) May 28, 2019
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As it turns out, Simpson was right. The weather was extremely dangerous. One person was killed and at least 130 were injured after tornadoes tore their way through parts of Ohio and Indiana. The pictures and videos that Simpson has shared on his Twitter page are devastating.
Listen to your weather person.
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—Based in North Carolina, Sister Toldjah is a former liberal and a 15+ year veteran of blogging with an emphasis on media bias, social issues, and the culture wars. Read her Red State archives here. Connect with her on Twitter.–
The post “Stop!”: Ohio Weather Man Lays the Smack Down on #Bachelorette Fans Complaining About Tornado Coverage appeared first on RedState.
Source: Texas ‘Red State’ Right News
