It's easy to forget sometimes that we're all human. Even weather forecasters. NBC Miami meteorologist John Morales broke down on-air as he was discussing the threat of Hurricane Milton on a local south Florida TV station. The "extremely dangerous" storm is a Category 4 hurricane expected to make landfall this week in the state.
"I apologize," he said through tears. "This is just horrific." People on social media were quick to thank Morales for his humanity. "Showing deep, emotional concern for humanity-respect, sir," one commenter wrote. Another person said: "John Morales has been with me through every big storm of my life, starting with Andrew. He is the real deal & seeing him have this reaction is quite sobering. May we all stay safe through this one."
Mental health professionals sympathized with Morales' position; being the bearer of bad news isn't easy. But they commended his bravery of sharing his grief on air, as it could help others prepare for the storm as well as begin to process grief of their own.
"We can tell that this is a man who cares about giving useful, accurate information to help others," says Kimberly Vered Shashoua, a therapist who until recently lived in hurricane-hit Asheville, North Carolina. "Not only do we trust Morales, we also get the sense that he sees what we're going through. We're not ignored. He may not know us, but he sees us."
Yes, you can grieve someone before you lose them.
"Morales may be showing anticipatory grief, also known as 'pre-grieving,'" says Shashoua. "We often feel anticipatory grief imagining the death of beloved pets or family members. Morales is showing a deep level of compassion for his viewers, anticipating struggles for those in the hurricane's path."
Chase Cassine, licensed clinical social worker, says pre-grieving is nothing to shy away from. "It is a normal and healthy part of loss when we are aware of the impending loss," Cassine says. "Additionally, when faced with uncertainty and stressful situations in life can exacerbate anticipatory grief."
People can grieve all kinds of things besides loved ones – especially when natural disasters spiral into our lives. Homes, pets, everything intangible we thought we knew. It's called disenfranchised grief.
Grief is everywhere:Their mom survived the hurricane, but the aftermath took her life
Hurricane Milton also comes after Hurricane Helene, which already devastated parts of the country. “Morales is having to confront the reality of a second disaster while the first one is still fresh. He is again witness to the pain of others, without a way to intervene," Shashoua says.
Many of those who work in weather may in turn experience climate grief. "Ecologists, polar researchers, and oceanographers also have to witness, again and again, the destruction of their life's work," Shashoua also says.
This can haunt them just as much as it haunts their viewers. "The mental toll could be a number of things such as anxiety, depression or even PTSD," says Raquel Martin, licensed clinical psychologist. "Many people think PTSD only occurs when you directly experience an event but it can also be the result of being consistently exposed to aversive details of an event." Shashoua adds: "People who deal with disasters often feel burned out, numb, or detached from their work in order to cope."
Important:They came to Asheville for healing. Now, all they see is destruction.
What can one do when grappling with all these feelings? Embrace vulnerability.
Seeing this anchor break down may help viewers to understand “the seriousness of this natural disaster and the toll it will have on people's lives," Martin says, "which may increase their likelihood of showing support, whether that is via volunteering, donating, praying."
Shashoua encourages people to reach out to loved ones. "If you don't have friends or family who you can talk to, reach out to a professional or an organization related to your disaster. Many employers offer employee assistance programs with 24/7 access to counselors."
It's easy to forget sometimes that we're all human. Remember anyway.
