Stephanie Abrams
Main Anchor, The Weather Channel

I’ll never forget going through my first eye of a hurricane…Hurricane Jeanne, September 2004!

You never know exactly where the eye of a hurricane is going to make landfall when you are getting in position several days in advance of a storm. Also, hurricanes can wobble, so even a little jump north or south can take you out of the center point of a storm.

We had been doing live shots for Hurricane Jeanne when a meteorologist back at The Weather Channel told us to take cover as we were about to get the eye wall (the worst part of the storm) and then the eye (the calmest part of the storm).

After the worst winds I had ever experienced tore apart Port Saint Lucie, Florida, the eye was overhead! During the eerie calm we went back outside and did more live shots during which I remember seeing the moon, stars, and little crabs that came out of hiding. We also heard some sort of crickets or frogs. We had a short time until we were told we had to get back inside as the other eye wall was about to blow through us!

Hurricane Jeanne hovers off the coast of Florida.

It was incredible to experience such intensity and calm in a short period of time. Hurricane Jeanne turned out to be the deadliest hurricane during the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season.

The only reason I got to cover hurricanes is because I asked to, was persistent with my desires, and worked tirelessly. As a matter of fact, that’s why I have my dream job! If you want to do something make sure you ask to do it, let people know exactly what your goal is, work hard — and never give up on yourself or your dreams!