Jamie Ostroff, reporter for Idaho Falls, ID, ABC affiliate KIFI drew the short straw Monday. She went live during the station’s 6:00 p.m. news in the middle of a dust storm.
“When the winds kick up, dust often blows from farms next to I-15 and forces transportation officials to close the road,” Ostroff told TVSpy. “By afternoon, winds were blowing over 60 miles per hour and the road was shut down.”
After informing viewers of the dangers of driving or even being out in those conditions, Ostroff tossed back to the studio. She then asked meteorologist Michael Coats, “Michael, when is this going to end? I want this to end.”
Ostroff loaded an edited version of the live shot to her youtube site, leaving TVSpy to wonder which is worse for reporting, the stinging spray of a hurricane or the exfoliating scrub of a dust storm?
“Afterward, I was covered in dust, with mud in my mouth and coming out of my eyes,” Ostroff said. “The camera operator and I were both filthy, but otherwise OK.”